Real Madrid and Ronaldo's Special Transfer Condition for World Cup Participation
New York — Negotiations for Bayern Munich's acquisition of defender Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen are officially underway, following Tah's decision to join the German champions. The timing of Tah's debut for Bayern could hinge on talks among Bundesliga heavyweights, as the tournament schedule, a fresh FIFA rule, and potential financial compensation are key factors.
The catalyst for the intricate transfer situation is the new Club World Cup, scheduled to debut in the USA from June 14 to July 13. A transfer rule proposed by football's governing body, FIFA, aims to address the competition's overlapping dates with the customary end of professional contracts on June 30. The new rule allows participating Club World Cup teams to sign new players or extend expiring contracts between June 1 and 10, specifically for tournament participation.
With the Club World Cup attracting top-tier clubs, several teams aim to capitalize on this new rule. Bayern, Real Madrid, and Tah's former Leverkusen coach, Xabi Alonso, are among the teams looking to utilize the early transfer window in the coming days. None has yet confirmed any specific player acquisitions.
Negotiations between Bayern and Bayer center around financial compensation. Sources claim a multi-million-dollar payment may be required for Tah to play for Munich during the group stages of the Club World Cup against Auckland, Boca Juniors, and Benfica. If an agreement is not reached, Tah would remain officially a Leverkusen player until June 30 and would only be able to join Bayern if the Bavarians reached the quarter-finals at the earliest.
Interest in the 2014 World Cup winner Mats Hummels, who plays for AS Roma, is growing at Borussia Dortmund for the Club World Cup. While a return to BVB is speculated, sporting director Sebastian Kehl deems it highly unlikely, although additional injuries to Dortmund's defensive line might change the situation. Moreover, the loan contract with Carney Chukwuemeka from Chelsea could potentially be extended to the end of the Club World Cup.
Meanwhile, international star players like Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia) have expressed interest in the Club World Cup. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has kept the door open for Ronaldo to join the tournament, depending on him securing a club wiling to sign him on short notice for the duration of the competition.
Interestingly, Trent Alexander-Arnold has already left Liverpool for Real Madrid, with an unusual agreement in place. After the transfer, Liverpool is reportedly set to receive nearly €10 million, with Real footing Alexander-Arnold's salary for the month of June.
In light of the Club World Cup's impact on international teams, clubs like Bayern and Dortmund are required to release their national players as usual from June 2 to 10 for tournaments like the Nations League finals. However, there is no obligation to release players during the Club World Cup itself. Consequently, some events, such as the U21 European Championship in June and the Gold Cup regional championship, may face player shortages, as some teams will have players competing for their respective clubs in the tournament instead. For instance, Bayern goalkeeper Jonas Urbig and new Munich player Tom Bischof will be unavailable for Germany's U21 team due to their Club World Cup commitments.
Other European-leagues teams, such as Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, are also considering the early transfer window to strengthen their squads for the upcoming Club World Cup. The premier-league giants, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, are closely monitoring other sports, like the Bundesliga and La Liga, for potential transfer targets.
