I prefer a stadium to Neymar with that money, says Bayern Munich CEO

Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said the German champions would never spend anywhere near the 222 million euros ($261 million) that Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) paid for Brazilian forward Neymar this month, saying he would prefer a stadium with that money. Rummenigge, who also heads Europe’s clubs association (ECA), said more “rationality” was required as transfer costs spiralled out of control.

“During the Neymar transfer I asked myself the question what would be more important: Neymar or the Allianz Arena,” Rummenigge told Sport Bild magazine on Wednesday. “I have to say clearly that I prefer having the Allianz Arena which is also more important. We as Bayern Munich must have a different philosophy,” Rummenigge said. “Overall the Neymar transfer could cost even more than the arena.”

Bayern took out a 346 million euro loan in 2005 to build its new stadium on the outskirts of the city and paid off the 25-year loan 16 years early in 2014. Bayern’s own transfer record was set in June when the Bavarians paid 41.5 million euros to sign France international Corentin Tolisso.

“We do not want to do this and we cannot do this (spending like PSG). And that is fine. That is also seen as the …read more