Manchester City’s €100m Plan for Aleksandar Pavlovic
Manchester City had their man. Or so they thought.
According to Bild, the Premier League champions earmarked Aleksandar Pavlovic as their first-choice target for central midfield as early as March, prepared to go as high as €100 million to prise him away from Bayern Munich. On paper, it made perfect sense: 22 years old, Bayern academy product, already a Germany international. In reality, the deal never even got off the ground.
Pavlovic’s answer was simple: no interest in leaving Bayern, no interest in England.
Guardiola Exit, Maresca Push – Same Result
By the time City’s interest hardened, the club hierarchy already knew what the rest of the world would only later discover: Pep Guardiola was on his way out, with Enzo Maresca lined up to replace him in the dugout.
The change on the bench did not change the target. Maresca, keen to shape a new-look midfield, also pushed personally for Pavlovic. He made his move, tried to convince the youngster to anchor his City side, but got nowhere.
Pavlovic did not waver. With the Germany international making it categorically clear he would not consider a transfer, City never even reached the stage of submitting an official offer. The idea died before it hit the negotiating table.
City Rip Up the Old Midfield
What followed in Manchester was nothing short of a midfield revolution.
- Rodri left for Barcelona.
- Bernardo Silva headed to Real Madrid.
- Tijjani Reijnders departed for Al-Qadsiah.
- Nico Gonzalez joined Newcastle.
Four major exits, four pillars of City’s central structure gone in a single window.
For a long stretch of the summer, City had just one major reinforcement lined up in the middle of the park: Elliot Anderson, signed from Nottingham for €135 million. One big piece, but nowhere near enough to replace an entire engine room.
The pressure of the window, and the scale of the exodus, finally forced City’s hand. Late on, they moved aggressively. Ayyoub Bouaddi arrived from Lille for €95 million. Enzo Fernandez followed from Chelsea for €145 million. Three midfielders, three hefty fees.
The final bill for central midfield alone: €375 million.
Pavlovic, meanwhile, stayed exactly where he wanted to be.
Bayern’s Homegrown Anchor
The 22-year-old came through Bayern’s youth ranks and broke into the first team with authority. Last season he made 44 competitive appearances for the club, scoring four goals and adding two assists. Not just a promising academy graduate anymore, but a regular presence in one of Europe’s most demanding midfields.
His rise did not go unnoticed at international level either. Germany handed him his debut in June 2024, and he has already collected 15 caps.
City rebuilt without him. Bayern built around him. And Pavlovic, for now, looks like the midfielder who said no to the Premier League money and yes to becoming a cornerstone in Munich.
