Questions and answers on the surprise transfer from FCB

Daley Blind to FC Bayern: until when does his contract run?

According to media reports, the 32-year-old’s contract runs until the end of the season. According to De Telegraaf should there be an option for another year. the picture reported, however, that they would sit down again in the summer and renegotiate. It was also said that Blind’s contract should be strongly performance-related and only include a low base salary.

A fee was not due for Blind. The defender was most recently under contract with Ajax Amsterdam. His working paper with the Dutch record champions was canceled at the end of 2022, which means Blind has been without a club since January 1st. A report of picture According to reports, the first contact between the defender and Bayern was made immediately after Blinds were out in Amsterdam after Christmas, and Blind is said to have immediately expressed great interest.

Daley Blind: How did things go at Ajax Amsterdam recently?

Blind and Ajax Amsterdam has long been an affair of the heart. As an eight-year-old, Blind joined the top club in his native city, following in the footsteps of his father Danny, who is the Ajax record player with 493 appearances to date.

Apart from a six-month loan to FC Groningen in 2010 and a four-year stint at Manchester United, Daley Blind has played mainly for Ajax in his career and has made 333 competitive appearances (13 goals).

Daley Blind: Why was he without a club?

His farewell at the end of last year was quite noisy. Even before the start of the World Cup in Qatar there were reports of a winter farewell, his contract, which originally ran until summer 2023, was finally terminated after Christmas. “That’s not how I imagined my end at Ajax, but due to circumstances it happened that way,” Blind said critically via Twitter to his long-time heart club.

Blind did not go into detail about the “circumstances” mentioned, according to the Dutch media there is said to have been a breach of trust with Ajax coach Alfred Schreuder. Blind had lost his regular place in the back left in the back four to 23-year-old Owen Wijndal in the fall. And in central defence, where blind can also play, the much younger Calvin Bassey (23) and Jurrien Timber (21) were given preference.

Daley Blind: how is he in shape?

At the World Cup, Blind was on the left side of the Dutch national team under Bonds coach Louis van Gaal. In the 3-5-2 basic order, Blind acted as a rail player in midfield.

Blind was in the starting eleven in every game and didn’t miss a minute until the quarterfinals against Argentina. In the duel with the eventual world champion, Blind was substituted in the 64th minute. Blind also had his part in the 3-1 win in the round of 16 against the USA with one goal and one assist. In short: Blind is currently in full swing.

And that is not a matter of course for him. In 2019 he suddenly blacked out in a Champions League game against FC Valencia. The diagnosis: severe inflammation of the heart muscle. Blind was very lucky, had a defibrillator fitted and returned to the pitch.

It doesn’t actually affect him, but when the pacemaker triggered in a test match against Hertha BSC in August 2020 and Blind clutched his chest in horror, it became clear that the heart thing is a constant companion for him.

Memories of his own history also surfaced when his friend Christian Eriksen, with whom he played at Ajax, collapsed. “It was a déjà vu for me, that’s what makes it so intense. Also for my family. My parents, my wife. It was a big emotional barrier that I had to break through to even be able to go on the pitch,” said he after Eriksen’s collapse at the EM 2021. In the Dutch game, Blind was then replaced in tears. “I seriously considered leaving it. I had a lot of heart problems myself.”

The situation with his heart is an emotional burden for Blind, but okay from a medical point of view. “The doctors say I’m safe,” even if the head may send different signals from time to time. In Italy, the league statutes forbid using a defibrillator, which is why Eriksen was unable to continue his career at Inter Milan and is now playing for Manchester United. There are no such regulations in Germany.

Daley Blind: How is the squad situation at Bayern?

The personnel situation at FC Bayern is particularly tense on the defensive. Manuel Neuer broke his lower leg and will be out until the end of the season. In addition, the defense is missing another top performer in Lucas Hernández, who suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in the French team’s first game at the World Cup in Qatar.

Although Blind is primarily at home in the left-back position, he can also play in the center of defense and in defensive midfield. The squad of Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann gains depth as a result.

There was a certain bottleneck, especially on the left back, when regular Alphonso Davies was prevented. Especially since Hernández is now missing in the long term. Marcel Sabitzer and, for a short time, youngster Paul Wanner also helped out this season as a last resort, but these experiments were unsuccessful.

Another option would be Josip Stanisic, who is actually at home on the back right in the back four, but has certainly been convincing in his previous appearances. The Croatia international is also behind despite signing Blind sports1Information is still firmly planned at Bayern, so a loan should not be an issue.

In general, Blind is a top backup on paper due to his experience of 99 international matches for the Netherlands and over 100 games in Europe for Ajax and ManUnited (a total of 61 appearances in the Champions League). He also strengthens the Oranje faction around Matthijs de Ligt and Ryan Gravenberch and also knows ex-Ajax colleague Noussair Mazraoui.