Max Eberl has firmly rejected speculation linking him with a move to Saudi Arabia, using humour to deflect intense scrutiny over his long-term future at FC Bayern Munich. The sporting director addressed the claims at Friday's press conference after reports suggested Al-Ittihad had initiated preliminary discussions about a potential role.
"I was indeed in Saudi Arabia—with the German U18 national team. That's the full extent of my experience there. Anything else is pure fantasy," Eberl quipped, having considered a more tongue-in-cheek response before settling on his prepared statement. The Saudi Arabian newspaper Arriyadiyah had reported that the kingdom's heavyweight club viewed Eberl as a candidate for their sporting director position, with Al-Ittihad positioned to clinch the 2025 league title.
Uncertainty Over Bayern Contract Extension
Eberl's contract at Bayern runs through 2027, yet his position remains ambiguous as the club's supervisory board has shown no indication of offering an early extension. Recent reports have highlighted tension between Eberl and fellow sporting director Christoph Freund, with Kicker magazine describing the working relationship as a "forced marriage." Despite these complications, Eberl has overseen significant success since joining Bayern in early 2024, securing two Bundesliga titles already.
When asked about staying longer at the Bavarian club, Eberl stated: "If they think I'm doing a good job, then I'm prepared to stay here at Bayern for longer." This conditional commitment reflects the underlying uncertainty surrounding his tenure. The sporting director will soon have another opportunity to demonstrate his credentials when Bayern face VfB Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal final on 23 May, their first appearance in the competition's showpiece since winning it in 2020. Before that milestone, Bayern host 1. FC Köln in their final league match this Saturday.
