A day after France’s World Cup run ended in semi-final defeat to Spain, the transfer story dominating the Bernabéu is Michael Olise. According to Foot Mercato’s Santi Aouna, the Bayern Munich winger has told people around him he wants to join Real Madrid this summer, with Bayern already scouting potential replacements in case they lose him.
Where things actually stand
Real Madrid have not made a formal move yet, largely because Bayern’s position has been unambiguous — the club is not selling. That said, Madrid are prepared to act immediately if there’s any sign that could change, and the club is treating the deal as unlikely rather than impossible.
Working against Madrid: Bayern’s representatives have reportedly floated a new five-year deal with a significant salary increase to keep Olise, and some reports claim the two clubs have an informal pact that would make a 2026 move very difficult. Working for Madrid: Aouna’s report today suggests Olise himself is pushing for the move rather than waiting to be talked into a new Bayern contract.
The price tag has climbed
Early-summer figures around €150M have been overtaken. Fichajes reported Madrid preparing a €190M proposal with a further €30M in add-ons, closing in on the existing world-record fee. SPORT and El Debate went further, describing a package worth roughly €223M — $216.5M upfront plus $37.5M in bonuses — which would surpass Neymar’s 2017 world-record €222M PSG transfer. That’s a different benchmark than Real Madrid’s own club record (the €115M paid for Eden Hazard in 2019) — this would be a world record, not just a club one.
Why the urgency
Olise has been one of the standout players of the World Cup — five assists through six appearances, the most by any player in a single tournament since Germany’s Thomas Hässler in 1994, and one more would equal Pelé’s all-time record. He’s asked Bayern for a meeting to discuss his future once the tournament ends.
Real Madrid have officially denied contacting the player, and Bayern insider Christian Falk has dismissed a summer move as having “no chance.” Perez, though, is said to see Olise as a defining Galáctico-era signing — and Madrid legend Ivan Zamorano has publicly backed the move, saying he’d sign Olise “tomorrow” and sketching an attack of Olise, Mbappé and Vinícius with Enzo Fernández added in midfield.
Where he’d fit
A right-flank spot has been open at the Bernabéu since Dani Carvajal’s departure, and Olise would line up alongside his France captain Mbappé at club level too. Vinícius’s contract situation remains under mediation, but for now the front three above is the dream picture Mourinho is working toward.
RMxtra Verdict
Real Madrid already have four signings in this summer — Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella and Bernardo Silva — with a centre-back and a midfielder still wanted before a marquee attacking name gets prioritized. Olise remains the dream, not the plan — this is a deal that needs Bayern’s resolve to crack first. If it does, a world-record fee shattering Neymar’s mark isn’t hyperbole. It’s the number being discussed.