Max Eberl opens up about Olise, Real Madrid and the WhatsApp he hesitated to read

Michael Olise, the 24-year-old French winger, was the player most strongly linked with a departure from Bayern Munich to Real Madrid last summer. The transfer never happened and the forward remained at the German club, where sporting director Max Eberl has now explained how he personally managed that period of intense speculation about his future.

• Max Eberl says Olise never asked to leave Bayern Munich for Real Madrid.
• The sporting director admits he hesitated before opening a WhatsApp message from Olise during the World Cup.
• Olise chose to keep the number 17 shirt instead of taking the number 11 next season.
• Bayern want to extend a contract that runs until 2029 and includes no release clause.
• The club expects to know the player's stance on a renewal before next summer.

The WhatsApp message Eberl hesitated to open

Speaking to Bild, Eberl admitted that the fear of receiving a transfer request did exist at some point. The anecdote that best reflects this took place during the World Cup, when the player sent him a direct message. The sporting director confessed with a laugh that he thought twice before opening the conversation, because he could not rule out that Olise wanted to formally raise his interest in joining Real Madrid.

The reality was far simpler. The message included a photograph of Olise alongside Manu Koné, a player Eberl signed during his time at Borussia Mönchengladbach, accompanied by a heart emoji. Both players were sending their greetings from the United States. Far from announcing a departure, the exchange served to maintain a friendly and tension-free relationship.

Olise never asked to leave Bayern Munich

Eberl was emphatic when assessing the forward's attitude during the months in which his name was linked with Real Madrid. He explained that Olise did not ask "even once" to leave the Bavarian club. The calm with which the club handled the situation was supported by the player's own stance, as he remained focused on his performances on the pitch.

Afterwards I asked Michael if he wanted to wear the number 11 next season, but he wanted to keep the 17. That was my contact with Michael, so everything was always in order.

That seemingly minor episode reinforces the idea that there was never an internal saga in the dressing room. The player preferred to keep his current number rather than accept a change that, at certain clubs, is often interpreted as a sign of greater prominence. For Eberl, everything remained in order during a summer packed with headlines in the sports press.

Olise's contract and the absence of a release clause

Michael Olise's deal with Bayern Munich runs until 2029. The sporting director wanted to highlight an important detail for future transfer windows: there is no release clause in his contract. This gives the German club a position of strength in any negotiation, including a possible approach from Real Madrid in upcoming windows.

Bayern want to renew Olise: timeline and plans

The Bavarian club is already considering the long-term future of the winger. Eberl believes his development since arriving has been extraordinary and is confident about sitting down to discuss what comes next when the time is right. Although three seasons remain on his contract, the sporting management has a clear horizon for defining the situation.

The internal deadline is set before next summer. By then, Bayern expect to know whether the player is willing to renew or prefers to keep his current deal without extending it. Olise's decision will determine the club's next steps, as they do not want to prolong the uncertainty beyond that date.

What Bayern's stance means for Real Madrid

The clarity with which Eberl has spoken about Olise's future sends a direct message to the market. Bayern consider the Frenchman a strategic part of their project and have enough contractual margin to block any attempt to leave. The absence of a release clause complicates any negotiation in which Real Madrid would have to deal directly with the German club at a high cost.

Even so, Eberl himself acknowledges that the player's intentions are decisive. If Olise were not interested in extending his commitment before next summer, the scenario could change. For now, the forward's performances and the institutional stability back the idea that the story between Olise and Bayern is far from over.