All good things come in threes. Following on from Corentin Tolisso and Lucas Hernández, the third current World Cup winner has arrived at FC Bayern. Defender Benjamin Pavard was officially unveiled on Friday at the media centre in the Allianz Arena as a new signing for FC Bayern. The 23-year-old joins the German record champions from relegated VfB Stuttgart with a contract to 30 June 2024. Welcome to Munich, bienvenue Benjamin Pavard!
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“Servus, I am Benjamin Pavard. I’m very happy to be a player at Bayern München from today,” said Pavard who, like his fellow countryman Hernández last Monday, greeted the members of the media in German. He was “very happy” to now be at “the best club in Germany” as the French international declared and he talked about a “great honour. This is an exceptional club.”
FC Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic praised the 2018 World Cup winner primarily for his versatility: “Benji is very flexible. Playing for Lille, Stuttgart and the French national side, he has shown that he can play in all positions in a three or four man defence. That’s very important to us because we need exactly that sort of player who is flexible and can be played in different positions.”
New signing Benjamin Pavard
“I’m aiming very high, just like FC Bayern, and that’s why I signed.”
In addition to great “match intelligence and a very skilful approach to defending”, Pavard also brings “great commitment paired with very good technique.” Salihamidzic is “100% convinced” that the new signing “will take the next steps in his career and will not only make us more flexible but also stronger.”
How great the commitment and motivation are for Pavard was shown by the young Frenchman when he was asked about his aims in Munich: “I’m hungry, I’d like to win titles. I’d like to win all the titles. I’m aiming very high, just like FC Bayern, and that’s why I signed. FC Bayern are the best club for me.”
Pavard does not envisage major problems settling in to the demands of life at the German record champions. “Of course, there will be more pressure but pressure doesn’t frighten me. From the national team I’m used to having to win every game,” he said drawing comparison with the Équipe Tricolore . At the same time, Pavard admitted that relegation from the Bundesliga with VfB Stuttgart last season had long after effects.
That chapter is over now and the defensive specialist is looking to the future. At FC Bayern, he wants to “accept responsibility” and contribute to the record champions doing well again in the forthcoming season. Where he will play will be decided by the coach. “I can play anywhere!”
