Thomas Tuchel is gone but Bayern Munich has finally got itself a proper No. 6. And what a difference he is poised to make.
Fulham destroyer João Palhinha’s protracted transfer saga saw him in Munich, ready to sign and take photos, last August before it fell through in the final hours of Deadline Day. A year and a new coach later — Vincent Kompany is now in charge — and Palhinha is finally in Bavaria for good and ready to go.
The 29-year-old put in a full shift in Tuesday’s 3-1 friendly win over WSG Tirol, the final tune-up before the 2024/25 competitive season begins on Friday.
“It was a good test to get our fitness up. It was important to give minutes to the players that didn’t play much recently and to the young players to show that they can achieve things with the first team,” Palhinha said after the game (captured via @iMiaSanMia) speaking like a long-time Bavarian vet already. “I’ve now been training for two weeks with the team. The training is good, the intensity is good. We have great players and a great team that can achieve good things.”
While nominally on the field for his defensive prowess, the Portuguese international capped his performance with this banger of a goal:
“I’m happy to score my first goal for this club. It’s always special when you score and enjoy the moment with your teammates. I’m proud to be here and ready to give everything for this club,” Palhinha added.
The Bavarian Podcast Works — Postgame Show has our thoughts and analysis of Bayern Munich’s 3-0 win over WSG Tirol. Find out who stood out, who missed out, and what takeaways fans have as the preseason friendly slate concludes. Check it out on Patreon, Spotify, or below:
