Matthäus states that Hoeneß fails to acknowledge the worth of his lifelong accomplishments.
Lothar Matthäus, former Bayern Munich player and Germany's record international, and Uli Hoeneß, Bayern Munich honorary president, have found themselves embroiled in a public spat over the potential transfer of Stuttgart's young striker, Nick Woltemade.
The feud, which has been simmering for years, reached a new peak when Matthäus publicly supported Bayern's interest in Woltemade, suggesting that even a high transfer fee (up to €60 million or more) would be justified given the player's talent. Matthäus's stance implied that Woltemade is a worthy target for Bayern and that the club's investment would be sensible.
However, Hoeneß harshly criticized Matthäus for these statements, accusing him of being "not right in his head" and claiming Matthäus was irresponsibly inflating transfer fee figures. Hoeneß argued this could damage Stuttgart's reputation if Woltemade were to be sold for much less than the high figures Matthäus mentioned.
Matthäus dismissed Hoeneß's insults as longstanding and unfounded, asserting that Hoeneß has not adapted to the modern football business landscape and remains stuck in outdated ways of thinking. Matthäus said he does not take Hoeneß's personal attacks seriously anymore and ruled out legal action, citing it would only generate unnecessary headlines and bring no benefit to either himself or Bayern.
The quarrel highlights a deeper rift regarding views on football’s evolution, player valuation, and transfer dealings. Matthäus criticizes Bayern and Hoeneß for what he perceives as outdated mentalities and double standards in transfer negotiations and club management.
Despite the heated exchange, Matthäus remains calm and refuses to escalate the conflict legally, suggesting the quarrel is more about clashing personalities and outdated mindsets than any substantive legal or footballing dispute.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich has a strong interest in signing Woltemade, the national team player. However, Bayern's financial expectations for signing Woltemade are far apart from Woltemade's current club, VfB Stuttgart. A possible solution for Bayern to secure Woltemade is for him to stay at Stuttgart for another year and join Bayern after the 2026 World Cup.
Matthäus, however, questions the wisdom of signing Woltemade for Bayern in the upcoming season, expressing doubts about his fit in Bayern's current system. Despite these reservations, Matthäus believes Bayern should secure Woltemade's services for the future.
The latest round of insults was initiated by Hoeneß, who recently attacked Matthäus, suggesting he "doesn't have all his marbles." Matthäus made these statements in an interview with "Sport Bild." Nick Woltemade, the player at the centre of the controversy, is a player for VfB Stuttgart, a German football club.
As the feud continues, it remains to be seen whether the two parties can find common ground or if their disagreements will persist, adding another chapter to their long-standing rivalry.
"Lothar Matthäus's support for Bayern Munich's interest in Nick Woltemade, the Stuttgart striker, extended to suggesting a high transfer fee for the player, implying his worth for European leagues, and potentially, Champions League football."
"Uli Hoeneß, Bayern Munich's honorary president, refuted Matthäus's claims, criticizing him for inflating transfer fee figures, stating it could damage Stuttgart's reputation if Woltemade were to be sold for less than the high figures mentioned, indicative of a disagreement on the player's value in the football market."
