Bayern Munich look to have finally solved their goalkeeping conundrum after a summer of increased speculation and rumour. The Rekordmeister have signed 23-year-old Israeli Daniel Peretz from Maccabi Tel Aviv for a fee reported to be in the €5 million range.
Following the news that Manuel Neuer’s return from injury would take longer than at first expected, the Bavarians were forced to confirm that his long-term deputy Sven Ulreich would be the number one for the foreseeable future. With both Yann Sommer and Alexander Nübel sold, Bayern were linked with a host of goalkeeper signings with David de Gea, Kepa Arizabalaga and Yassine Bounou amongst them.
The club have however now confirmed the largely unknown Peretz will be the club’s back-up keeper having impressed at the recent U-21 European championships. So have Bayern signed a potential Manuel Neuer 2.0?
Former Bundesliga player and Israeli compatriot Almog Cohen (Nürnberg and Ingolstadt) certainly believes so and the current sporting director for Israeli Premier League side Maccabi Netanya says that Bayern are getting a real talent.
“Daniel is Manuel Neuer 2.0., the Israeli Neuer. He’s a really big talent with a good overall package of reflexes and control of the penalty box,” Cohen explained to Bild. “I’ve been following him for 3-4 years – that’s when he made another big development. Daniel has a real working mentality, always wants to develop – for example working in the weight room, although he already has a good physique.”
He made his Tel Aviv debut at the end of the 2020/21 season and has since established himself as the number one. He is an excellent shot stopper (as his penalty saves in the Euros showed) and is excellent with the ball at his feet and pinpoint with his distribution (à la Neuer).
“With Daniel Peretz, we are very well positioned in our goalkeeping team – for this season and for the future. Daniel Peretz is a goalkeeper with great potential” explained Bayern CEI Jan-Christian Dreesen. “In his younger years, he not only proved his skills in national, but also in international competitions.”
The player himself (who also has a German passport) has also admitted his pride at joining the Bundesliga giants. “It’s every child’s dream to be able to play for a club as big as FC Bayern. When I heard about Bayern’s interest, I only had one wish: to move here. I’m hungry for whatever comes next.”
Peretz becomes the first Israeli to play for Bayern, which considering the club’s Jewish roots amongst their founding members, is a special moment.
