He was rejected by Premier League giants – now Real Madrid is preparing a $171 million offer

Michael Olise (born December 12, 2001, in London) has gone from a relatively unknown prospect to a global star in just a few years. His performances at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he helped guide France to the final, elevated him to a completely different level. Bayern Munich moved quickly, signing him for approximately $60 million, a fee that now looks like a bargain given his impact. His rise has also made him an undisputed starter for France, with whom he will attempt to win the first World Cup of his young career this summer.

Real Madrid’s $171 million pursuit

The Bayern attacker is reportedly the “Galáctico” target Florentino Pérez hopes to sign if he is reelected president, with a bid worth around $171 million expected to be submitted next week. In barely two years, from breaking through in the Premier League to establishing himself in the Champions League, Olise has transformed from an unfamiliar name into one of the most coveted players in world soccer.

Negotiating with Bayern, however, will not be easy. The German giants rarely allow their stars to leave. Four years ago, Robert Lewandowski joined Barcelona, but the Polish striker had only one year remaining on his contract. For any move to materialize, the French international would likely need to make his intentions clear publicly. Bayern rejected approaches from several clubs late in the season. Premier League teams closely monitored his situation in hopes of bringing him back to England, but the six-time European champions shut down any possibility of a return.

Olise: four nationalities but chose France

Olise was neither born in France nor developed in French soccer. Born in London on December 12, 2001, he holds four nationalities: Nigerian through his father, French and Algerian through his mother, and British by birth. England attempted to persuade him to represent the Three Lions, but his connection to his mother and France’s persistence ultimately tipped the scales in favor of Les Bleus. The winger’s own preference also played a role, as he has said that representing France was a childhood dream.

“I have many different connections with Nigeria, Algeria, France and England. It’s not something I think about every day, it’s completely normal for me. I carry small things from each country within me,” he said in a recent interview while speaking proudly about his multicultural background.

One of the most remarkable aspects of his career is that he became the first player in France national team history to represent Les Bleus without ever playing for a French club. Having grown up in England, he came through the youth systems of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City, though none retained him. He eventually found his footing at Reading, where he impressed in the Championship before gaining prominence with Crystal Palace and later earning his move to Bayern.

In 2023, Paris Saint-Germain attempted to sign him, but he turned down the offer. Had the same opportunity arrived two years later, the outcome might have been different.

Why Michael Olise has no boot sponsor

Another unusual characteristic of a player who has often been misunderstood is that he has no official boot sponsor. While most elite players sign lucrative endorsement deals with major brands, Olise has remained an independent figure in a sport increasingly driven by commercial partnerships. He typically wears Nike boots, but without any formal agreement with the American company. It is an understated and highly unusual profile for a player operating at the highest level.

“If I know someone well, I’m quite open and happy to talk about everything and nothing. What would I say about myself? I’m very focused but relaxed, and I like enjoying the things I do. In everyday life and in soccer,” he told L’Équipe, adding that he is naturally distrustful of many people and prefers to avoid third-party agreements, even if they would bring substantial financial rewards. His growing fame has not changed that stance.

A different personality behind closed doors

Olise may appear reserved in public, but teammates describe a very different personality behind closed doors. “It’s funny because he’s not that reserved when he’s with us,” teammate Jonathan Tah recently said. “From the outside it doesn’t seem that way, but he’s very open. We laugh a lot with him in the locker room. I just think he doesn’t like being in front of cameras.”

Tah and Dayot Upamecano have nicknamed him “Akpo,” while coach Vincent Kompany has compared his technical quality to that of Kevin De Bruyne.

His shyness in front of cameras has often contrasted sharply with his brilliance on the field. After being named France’s Player of the Year at the UNFP Awards in May, Olise chose to speak in English rather than French. During his first press conference as a French international, his answers in French were brief and measured, reflecting the fact that he still does not fully master the language.

Despite that, Olise has explained that he regularly traveled to France with his mother as a child and gradually learned French along the way. Soccer, however, remains a universal language. This season, the Bayern winger produced an outstanding campaign with 53 goal contributions across all competitions – 22 goals and 31 assists – although he fell short of his dream of winning the Champions League after PSG eliminated Bayern in the semifinals.

Olise could become one of the biggest names in world soccer in the coming days. The Franco-British star is reportedly the player Florentino Pérez hopes to make his next marquee signing with a bid worth around $171 million. Before that, he will head to the United States hoping to lead France’s attack at the World Cup. His rise has been meteoric, and it is why half of Europe – including Real Madrid – wants him.

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