Super Eagles legend Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha has revealed that Bayern Munich wanted to sign him in 1991, but the move fell through because he was not yet eligible to sign a professional contract, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Okocha, who was 17 at the time, had impressed Bayern after featuring for their youth team at a tournament in Switzerland, prompting the German giants to offer him a move.
However, because he would not turn 18 until August, German regulations meant Bayern could not offer him a professional contract immediately.
“I got an offer from Bayern Munich. I went with their youth team to a tournament in Switzerland, and after that, they wanted to sign me,” Okocha said on the Obi One Podcast.
“Bayern made me an offer, but it was only verbal because they said, ‘We can’t give you a professional contract until you turn 18.’
“I asked them, ‘Can you put it in writing on paper? Because I can’t come all the way from Nigeria to rely on a verbal contract. What if I get injured and you tell me to go home? I’ll have nothing?’”
Okocha subsequently returned to Germany and signed for third-tier Borussia Neunkirchen, before Eintracht Frankfurt moved for him during the winter transfer window.
He went on to establish himself in the Bundesliga, making 90 appearances and scoring 18 goals for Frankfurt before moving to Fenerbahce in 1996.
Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Okocha said he was willing to take the risk of waiting for Bayern because of the club’s stature at the time.
“I would have had to train with the professionals and play with the reserve team, but I was willing to take the risk because they were the biggest club in Germany,” he said.