When Bayern Munich comes knocking, you answer the door.
That was certainly the case for one former Premier League title winner who was quickly packing his bags, his passport and a trusty German phrasebook before making his way to the airport.
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But not everything in life goes the way you’d hoped and for Kasper Schmeichel, the lights quickly went out on a dream move to Bayern.
The Bundesliga giants had been rocked by a long-term injury to goalkeeper Manuel Neuer who suffered a double leg break while on a skiing trip with friends, shortly after the 2022 World Cup.
Bayern were left with Sven Ulreich as their only senior goalkeeper and with Neuer set to miss ten months of action, the Bundesliga giants turned their attention to Schmeichel.
The Dane, who at the time was under contract at French club OGC Nice, was only ever going to be a stop gap and he knew it. But it was Bayern and Schmeichel was ready to take whatever he was offered.
“Yes, that’s correct, there were discussions about me joining Bayern,” the Celtic goalkeeper confirmed at a press conference ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League playoff clash at the Allianz Arena.
“It was after Manuel Neuer got his injury at the World Cup a couple of years ago. Basically, everything was kind of agreed and it just fell through at the last second. You would have to ask Bayern what the problem was.
“I’m not 100 per cent sure what happened, but I was kind of on my way to the airport.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t materialise. It would have been a dream to have played for a club like this, but it wasn’t to be.
“Everything happens for a reason. I’m very happy with where it’s brought me now. Sometimes life works in funny ways. I’m delighted to now be with Celtic.”
Schmeichel has been in inspired form since signing for the Hoops last summer on a one-year deal with option to extend for a further 12 months.
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The move has given him an unlikely return to the Champions League something he experienced with Leicester City in the 2016/17 campaign.
And while that particular escapade saw him brush shoulders with FC Porto, Sevilla, and Atletico Madrid, a meeting with Bayern, whom he holds in high esteem, had evaded him, until now.
“My grandfather loved German football and Bayern Munich are kind of the flagship of German football, so he always talked about them,” the 38-year-old added.
“It’s a club that I’ve followed from an early age. It’s great to play against them, but it would be even greater if we could pull off something.
“I spoke to the hierarchy. I knew what my role was going to be. It was keeping the seat warm until Manuel came back. And I was more than fine with that.
“To have played for a club of this stature would have been more than enough. I said: “Send the contract!” – I don’t even need to know what it is. I’ll sign it anyway.
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“So, yeah, it would have been a dream come true, but it wasn’t to be. And it’s brought me here now with Celtic. So I’m very happy with that as well.”
Bayern instead opted for Swiss international goalkeeper Yann Sommer as cover for Neuer for the remainder of the 2022/23 season later penning a three-year deal with Serie A giants Inter.
Unlike the case of Joao Palhinha, Bayern failed to return with an offer for Schmeichel who went on to play for Anderlecht before his move to Celtic.
Celtic face an uphill task in overturning their 2-1 deficit ahead of last week’s first-leg in Glasgow.
The Hoops enter into a cauldron of 75,000 fans at the Allianz Arena knowing that the odds are against them in their bid to qualify for the round of 16.
But if anyone knows about beating the odds, it’s Schmeichel who played a key role in Leicester’s miraculous title-winning campaign of 2015/16.
“I think it would be a massive achievement for sure,” Schmeichel said. “If you’re able to put Bayern out of the Champions League that would certainly be up there.
“We’re under no illusions it’s going to be difficult but I have been a part of teams that have done things against the odds. So why not?”
