Soccer
Real Madrid have vehemently denied suggestions that they have been in contact with Bayern Munich star Michael Olise over a prospective move to the Spanish capital.
Madrid have been busy in the transfer market following a second straight season without major silverware, signing Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konate.
They have also had an audacious bid for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez knocked back, while Jose Mourinho has returned for a second stint as their head coach, after winning three trophies with the club between 2010 and 2013.
There had been speculation that Madrid’s next move could be for Olise, who was one of Europe’s best performers as Bayern won a Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in 2025-26.
Olise ended the Bundesliga season with 34 goal involvements (15 goals, 19 assists), a new record for a winger since Opta data collection began in the German top flight in 2004-05.
Only team-mate Harry Kane (41) directly contributed to more Bundesliga goals than Olise, who also scored five goals and provided seven assists in 13 Champions League games.
Florentino Perez pledged to spend $150m on a ‘Galactico’ player prior to winning Madrid’s presidential election earlier this month, but the club have denied making any move for Olise.
A statement issued by Madrid on Saturday read: “In light of the information published in various media outlets regarding an alleged interest of our club in Bayern Munich player Michael Olise, Real Madrid wishes to clarify it has not had any direct or indirect contact with the aforementioned footballer, his representatives, or individuals in his circle.
“Real Madrid also wishes to highlight the excellent institutional relationship it maintains with Bayern Munich, with whom it shares a long history of mutual respect, collaboration, and admiration, and regrets the dissemination of speculation that does not match reality.
“Both clubs have always maintained a relationship based on trust and mutual respect, which is reflected, among other aspects, in the shared conviction that any potential interest in a player belonging to the other club must be addressed first between the entities themselves.”
Olise provided an excellent assist for Kylian Mbappe as France opened their World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Senegal on Monday, and he is in line to start again when they face Iraq in their second match.
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