Michael Reschke had to convince Karl-Heinz Rummenigge to sign Joshua Kimmich at Bayern Munich

The importance of having a voice in the board room when discussing transfers can never be underestimated. Former Bayern Munich technical director Michael Reschke detailed how the transfer of Joshua Kimmich to Bavaria came about on Sport1 journalist Florian Plettenberg’s podcast “Meine Bayern Woche” and you might be surprised to hear that it was not an easy sell.

“Kimmich was the first major signing for which I was primarily responsible,” Reschke said (as captured by Abendzeitung). “In July 2014, there was the U-19 European Championship. Our interest was primarily Joshua Kimmich. At the European Championships, he was clearly the most interesting and strongest player for me.”

Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

Kimmich was on loan at RB Leipzig from VfB Stuttgart at the time and Die Roten Bullen manager Ralf Rangnick also had a strong desire to sign the youngster permanently. Accordingly, the price tag on the future superstar rose to heights that made Bayern Munich uncomfortable.

“At the end of the day, we negotiated a contract that was just under €10 million in total fees. That was a mighty hurdle to overcome, even within FCB,” Reschke said.

Not shockingly, Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge voiced his concern at spending so much money (at the time) on a player whose experience was mostly in 2. Bundesliga.

“Rummenigge told me: ‘With all due respect, we know how much you value the player’,” Reschke recounted. “Just under €10 million for someone who hasn’t played a minute in the Bundesliga was unusual for Bayern and extremely high. I went out on a limb at the time. ‘Mr. Rummenigge, you’re right, that’s a powerful package, but for a future German international. I am firmly convinced: we have to sign this player for Bayern Munich’.”

The rest, as they say, is history.