Uli Hoeneß explains why he stopped Vincent Kompany from bringing Xavi Simons to Bayern Munich

TL;DR

Uli Hoeneß blocked Vincent Kompany's attempt to bring Xavi Simons to Bayern Munich last summer, insisting on prioritizing young players. Simons eventually transferred to Tottenham Hotspur for around €65m but has struggled since the move.

Key points

Uli Hoeneß blocked Xavi Simons' transfer to Bayern Munich.
Vincent Kompany and Christoph Freund requested the transfer.
Hoeneß emphasized the importance of playing young players.
Xavi Simons transferred to Tottenham for around €65 million.
Simons has struggled at Tottenham, contributing to relegation fears.

Mentioned in this story

Uli HoeneßVincent KompanyXavi Simons

Bayern MunichTottenham Hotspur

MUNICH, GERMANY - MARCH 19: FC Bayern München Honorary President Uli Hoeness speaks during the MMM-Messe on March 19, 2024 in Munich, Germany. For many years, the trade fair has been regarded as the largest industry get-together for intermediaries from the insurance and finance sector in southern Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images When Uli Hoeneß speaks, the earth shakes. This time, he revealed that he was the one responsible for blocking the transfer of Xavi Simons to Bayern Munich last summer. Apparently, both Vincent Kompany and Christoph Freund traveled to his house at Tegernsee to beg for a transfer, but the FC Bayern ex-President was resolute. Hoeneß recounted the incident on the Podcast *Auf eine weiß-blaue Tasse* (via @iMiaSanMia). This was part of a wider interview where he touched on a number of relevant topics. “Vincent Kompany was at Tegernsee [last summer],” said Hoeneß. “He drove out there with Christoph Freund, and said: ‘Uli, we need Xavi Simons’. I had put an apple pie on the table for the meeting and replied: ‘Vincent, you can have another piece of the apple pie, but you’re not getting Xavi. We want you to play the young players’.” “And he did exactly that.” “We had some real disagreements within our club that summer,” added Hoeneß (via @iMiaSanMia). “There were some really big disputes because some of our people in charge wanted to spend €100-150m more for some serious signings.” “But the older heads prevailed, mainly because we said: If you want to give the youngsters a chance, then you have to make space for them. If we buy players for €100-150m, it’s obvious that the coach would have to play them.” In the end, it seems like the gamble paid off. Vincent Kompany has given a debut to a record number of teenagers this season, and has burst onto the scene, filling the void left by absence of a more established player. Meanwhile Xavi Simons, the main target of last summer, ended up going to for a deal worth around €65m. The Dutchman has struggled since the move, and Spurs currently find themselves staring down the barrel of relegation in the Premier League. So Uli Hoeneß was right in the end. Did he just get lucky? You be the judge.

Q&A

Why did Uli Hoeneß stop Xavi Simons from joining Bayern Munich?

Uli Hoeneß wanted to prioritize playing young players over making expensive signings, which led him to block the transfer.

What was the transfer fee for Xavi Simons to Tottenham Hotspur?

Xavi Simons transferred to Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of around €65 million.

How has Xavi Simons performed at Tottenham after his transfer?

Since joining Tottenham, Xavi Simons has struggled, contributing to the team's current relegation concerns in the Premier League.