Lothar Matthäus is certainly not a man of few words. Sometimes, he backs Bayern Munich’s decisions, while at other times, he is more than happy to take a subtle jab at the club. The former midfielder for Die Roten and Inter Milan believes Uli Hoeneß’s recent comments about Jamal Musiala’s salary raise an important question about how Bayern Munich evaluates its players’ contracts. The former Bayern captain argues that the club must apply the same financial logic to every player, including Michael
Olise.
In his column for Sky Germany (via @iMiaSanMia), Matthäus pointed out that Bayern agreed to Musiala’s salary and contract length when the Germany international signed his extension. That agreement, he argued, was made with the understanding that a player’s future performance could not be guaranteed.
Jamal Musiala has endured a difficult road to recovery since suffering a devastating injury in July 2025 during the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain. A collision with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma left him with a fractured fibula, a broken and dislocated ankle, and ligament damage. Following Germany’s exit from the 2026 World Cup, Musiala underwent a scheduled procedure to remove the metal plates and screws from his previous ankle and fibula surgery. His recovery was further complicated by a muscle injury and a diagnosis of absence seizures linked to a neurological condition.
Musiala suffered another setback in late September 2026, tearing muscle fibers in his right thigh and hamstring while warming up for international duty with Germany. The injury kept him sidelined for several weeks. Although he rejoined Bayern Munich’s group training earlier this month, questions remain about how long it will take him to regain his best form, or if he can get there at all.
Matthäus also suggested Hoeneß would have been among the first to criticize similar remarks had someone else made them. The former midfielder acknowledged that Hoeneß’s intentions were unclear, but felt the comments opened the door to unnecessary speculation. He went on to draw a comparison to Michael Olise’s contract.
“If Hoeneß was referring to value for money, then the other side of the equation would also have to be considered—Michael Olise’s salary would need to be at least doubled, if not tripled, given that his market value has risen from the €50 million Bayern paid to sign him to between €150 million and €200 million,” Matthäus said.
That argument highlights the uncertainty inherent in every contract. A club takes a risk when committing significant money to a player, just as the player accepts the possibility that performance may not meet expectations. Matthäus believes Musiala should not be considered overpaid simply because he is currently unavailable. By the same reasoning, Olise and other Bayern players exceeding expectations could be viewed as underpaid. Ultimately, Matthäus is calling for consistency. Bayern agreed to Musiala’s deal, and current circumstances do not change the terms of that commitment.
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