Real Madrid says no contact with Bayern on Michael Olise

Real Madrid has formally denied making any contact with Bayern Munich or representatives of star winger Michael Olise, seeking to quell intense speculation about a potential record-breaking transfer. In a statement issued on June 20, the Spanish club said it had not had any "direct or indirect" discussions regarding the French international, emphasizing its "excellent institutional relationship" with the German champions.

The statement comes after weeks of reports, primarily from Spanish media, that Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez was personally driving a pursuit of Olise and was prepared to make an offer exceeding 200 million euros. Such a fee would approach the world-record 222 million euros paid for Neymar in 2017. While the club's denial specifically refuted any contact, it did not explicitly rule out an interest in the player. Instead, it stressed that any potential interest in a Bayern player would first be addressed directly between the two clubs, in line with their long-standing principles.

Bayern Munich's position has been unequivocal and publicly stated for weeks. Club president Herbert Hainer said earlier this month that Olise is not for sale, telling a German...