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Bayern Munich, Tottenham Make Joint Decision on Joao Palhinha

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Manuel Meza Cienfuegos | Last updated Mar 22, 2026 2:30 PM ET

Bayern Munich intended for Joao Palhinha to become their next great central midfielder, but after a few disappointing months in Bavaria, they decided to loan him to Tottenham.

At the end of this season, he will return to the Allianz Arena because he has not convinced in London either, but he is also not in the plans of the German club, according to reports.

Bayern, after losing the Bundesliga to Leverkusen, realized they needed to take urgent measures with their squad, and they began by breaking up the midfield pair that delivered their last Champions League title.

While Joshua Kimmich continues to show the level of a German champion, Leon Goretzka was pushed aside, and they sought to replace him with Joao Palhinha.

At that time, Joao was coming off a great season with Fulham, a team where he excelled under Marco Silva, and had established himself as a Portuguese international, but the reality is that in a team that requires much more possession than the other two clubs, he has not been able to adapt. That is why, this season, he has ended up in his natural habitat: the Premier League.

In contexts where many duels take place and physicality comes into play, Palhinha emerges as a powerful all-around player against his rivals.

Joao Palhinha of Tottenham Hotspur controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Atletico de Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Estadio Civitas Metropolitano on March 10, 2026, in Madrid, Spain. Photo by Manu Reino/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images

Tottenham, Bayern Munich Reach Same Conclusion About Palhinha

However, he needs another playmaker alongside him so that ball circulation is not affected, and that has also been felt at Spurs, who, after James Maddison’s injury, have suffered too much from that lack of creativity.

Consequently, and with all the problems they have on their hands these months, they have decided not to keep Palhinha for the future, and Joao must return to Munich when the 2024-2025 season ends, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes.

Given that there is a World Cup in between, during which his price could have skyrocketed, Bayern is not ruling out finding another transfer in August, and Kompany has other plans for his midfield.

Palhinha, 30, has played 38 matches this season for Tottenham, logging over 2,400 minutes, during which he has scored five goals and provided three assists.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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