Real Madrid issues official denial over Michael Olise transfer links with Bayern Munich

Real Madrid moved this weekend to quash persistent transfer speculation by issuing a rare official statement. The club firmly denied having had any contact with Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, who is representing France at the 2026 World Cup.

The official denial

In a communiqué released on Saturday, Madrid stated they have "not had any direct or indirect contact with the aforementioned player, his representatives, or anyone in his entourage." The notice went on to "highlight the excellent institutional relationship" with Bayern, with whom the Spanish side shares "a long history of mutual respect, collaboration and admiration." It added that both clubs believe any interest in a player belonging to the other must be addressed first between the entities themselves, in line with "the principles of institutional loyalty that have historically governed the relations between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid."

Real Madrid also wishes to highlight the excellent institutional relationship it maintains with Bayern Munich, with whom it shares a long history of mutual respect, collaboration and admiration, and regrets the spread of speculation that does not correspond to reality.

Bayern’s position

The Bundesliga champions had already made their stance clear before Madrid’s statement. Club president Herbert Hainer told Bild that Olise is not for sale while he negotiates a contract extension, and that any offer from Madrid would be unwelcome.

If Madrid want to send us an offer for Olise, something that hasn't happened until now, they can save themselves the trouble.

Olise, 24, joined Bayern from Crystal Palace in 2024 and has since made 107 appearances, registering 42 goals and 54 assists across all competitions. This season he scored 22 league goals and provided 31 assists, earning him the Bundesliga player of the year award, according to reports in Spain. His Bayern contract runs until 2029.

Madrid’s summer business

The denial comes amid a flurry of transfer activity at the Santiago Bernabéu. In recent weeks Madrid have confirmed the arrivals of defenders Ibrahima Konaté and Marc Cucurella, midfielder Bernardo Silva, and full-back Denzel Dumfries, while José Mourinho has returned as head coach. Earlier in June the club revealed it had tabled a €150 million bid for Atlético Madrid forward Julián Álvarez, which was rejected.

World Cup context

Olise started for France in their opening World Cup match against Senegal, providing two assists. The tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada is ongoing, and his performances have only fuelled the rumour mill in Spanish sports dailies. Madrid’s statement appears designed to calm the noise and preserve a cordial relationship with Bayern during the summer window.

A carefully worded message

The unusual step of issuing a public denial, rather than letting the speculation fade, underlines the diplomatic weight Madrid places on its link with Bayern. The statement explicitly frames any future approach as something that would be conducted club-to-club first, a signal that behind‑the‑scenes channels remain open even if there is no current negotiation.