Bayern Munich manager Niko Kovac has defended the loan signing of Ivan Perisic from Inter Milan.
The move was confirmed on Tuesday morning with Perisic joining the Bundesliga champions until the end of the 2019/20 season, with Bayern also have an option to buy the 30-year-old for £20m.
Bayern sign Perisic: Five things to know…
- Bayern Munich have confirmed the loan signing of Ivan Perisic from Inter Milan.
- The 30-year-old will be a Bayern player until the end of the 2019/20 season.
- Bayern also have an option to buy Perisic for £20m at the end of his loan.
- Perisic has been brought in to help replace Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben.
- Niko Kovac has hit back at criticism of the move, stating players deserve respect.
Bayern have spent the summer trying to replace the departing Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, with the latter retiring.
Kovac’s men had been heavily linked with moves for Premier League duo Leroy Sane and Callum Hudson-Odoi of Manchester City and Chelsea respectively. According to reports, a move for the former only fell through after he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in Man City’s Community Shield win over Liverpool.
As a result, Perisic was confirmed on a temporary move, potentially keeping the option of Sane open for next summer. The deal has received some criticism due to Perisic’s age and subpar season for Inter Milan.
But Kovac has hit back at those writing Perisic off before he’s kicked a ball for Bayern.
“This debate is basically wrong. Every player deserves some respect,” he told reporters.
“It is too easy to always criticise someone. First you don’t [sign] someone and then not the next one either then you suddenly have a XY-solution? That is not good.
“Stefan Effenberg joined Bayern at the age of 30 and won the Champions League with the club. We have to get away from looking at the age [of someone].”
Kovac’s sentiments were echoed by Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, who said: “Ivan will help us from the start with his extensive experience at a top international level.
“He has good technique and he’s flexible in attack. I’m sure Ivan will settle in quickly as he knows both the Bundesliga and our coach Niko Kovac well.”
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Bayern’s summer arrivals
Upon completing his loan move from Inter Milan, Perisic became the fourth new arrival at the Allianz Arena this summer.
The first two came in the form of defenders Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard, whose moves were confirmed before the end of last season.
They were joined by promising striker Jann-Fiete Arp, another deal confirmed before the summer, with the teenager taking up option to join this year as opposed to next.
And with the German transfer window open until September 2, Bayern could yet strengthen their squad further, as reports link them with a move for Barcelona’s Philippe Coutinho.