Vincent Kompany was so desperate to sign Xavi Simons that he drove out to meet Uli Hoeneß personally, pleading “we need Xavi, we need Xavi, we need Xavi” only to be told he could have another slice of apple pie instead.
The Tottenham playmaker eventually joined the north London club for around €60m last August, but it could have been so different.
Bayern Munich had the chance. They wanted him. Kompany was obsessed. But Hoeneß, the club’s honorary president, had other ideas.
‘You’re not getting Xavi’
Appearing on podcast Auf eine weiß blaue Tasse, Hoeneß revealed the full story behind the failed transfer.
“I still remember a conversation; Vincent Kompany was at Tegernsee, he drove out there specifically for this, with Christoph Freund,” Hoeneß said.
“Kompany said, ‘Uli, we need Xavi, we need Xavi, we need Xavi’.”
The response? Brutal.
“I had ordered an apple pie, or rather, it was already on the table, and I said, ‘Vince, you can have another piece of apple pie, but you’re not getting Xavi’.”
Hoeneß urged Kompany to focus on the club’s own young talents instead. And to his credit, the Bayern boss implemented that 100 per cent.
But what might have been?
Chelsea and Bayern both wanted him
Simons was one of the most sought after young attackers in Europe last summer. Chelsea and Bayern were both in the race. Leipzig, his parent club at the time, were under financial pressure to sell.
Tottenham swooped. €60m. A statement signing.
But the numbers since have not quite matched the hype.
Simons struggling at Spurs
Four goals. Five assists. 39 appearances. That is not what Tottenham paid for.
He has started just 17 of his 29 Premier League games. Total minutes? 1,616. Key passes per game? 1.2. Big chances created? Six.
Rafael van der Vaart, never one to hold back, has already questioned his level. Expected more from his compatriot. So have the Spurs fans.
Roberto De Zerbi needs Simons to step up. Tottenham are in a relegation fight. They need their big money signings to deliver.
The bottom line
Kompany wanted him. Hoeneß said no. Tottenham said yes.
So far, the apple pie looks like the better decision.
But there is still time. Simons has talent. Everyone agrees on that. Whether he can show it in a Tottenham shirt before the season ends will determine how this story is remembered.
If he keeps them up, the €60m will look like money well spent. If not? Hoeneß will be laughing into his dessert.
