Singh’s Bayern Munich debut raises his value
Wynton Rufer believes Sarpreet Singh’s stock will skyrocket in the wake of his ‘‘brilliant’’ Bayern Munich debut.
The All Whites midfielder took another step on his incredible football journey, becoming just the second New Zealander behind Rufer to play in Germany’s Bundesliga by making his long-awaited competitive debut on Sunday.
Singh came on with eight minutes remaining in Bayern’s 6-1 rout of Werder Bremen at the famed Allianz Arena in Munich, replacing hat-trick hero Philippe Coutinho, a player Barcelona paid an eye watering $250 million for last year.
‘‘He came on after Thomas Muller and replaced Coutinho, it’s just brilliant,’’ said Rufer, who took particular delight at the fact Singh’s debut came against his former club Werder Bremen.
‘‘It’s an awesome story for all the young kids here who are dreaming. It’s possible.’’
Following a breakout A-League season with New Zealand’s only professional club, Wellington Phoenix, Singh landed a dream move to Bayern in a deal which could rise to $1 million due to various adds-ons, including first-team appearances.
However, Rufer expected his transfer value to increase dramatically now that he has played a game for one of the world’s biggest clubs, believing he added as much as $5 million to his worth in the eight minutes he was on the field.
He likened Singh’s situation to former Bayern product Jeong Woo-yeong, who was sold to Freiburg after making just one senior appearance.
‘‘Even if it was just one minute because once you get on the field you’ve got a game. One game is more than none and just to get on the field for Bayern Munich is a big deal. His value overnight has gone up $5 million,’’ Rufer said.
‘‘In terms of turnover, the four biggest clubs in the world are Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
‘‘They can pick any player in the world. They spend millions just on the scouting system alone. They can choose anyone and they chose our New Zealander Sarpreet Singh, and
‘‘One game is more than none and just to get on the field for Bayern Munich is a big deal. His value overnight has gone up $5 million.’’
Wynton Rufer All Whites great
now he’s getting on the park.
‘‘From this moment the worst case scenario is like the Korean boy [Woo-yeong] who went to Freiburg. I don’t even think he got on in the Bundesliga but he got on the German Cup and then he went on to Freiburg for $3 million and he’s a young boy like Sarpreet.’’
Because his contract is with Bayern Munich II, the club’s reserve team, Singh was expected to see out the season in 3.Liga.
But a series of injuries to key players in his position, a coaching change and some standout performances for the reserves opened the door for the former Onehunga Sports product to make a debut no-one, not even Rufer, saw coming this time last year.
‘‘He’s done brilliant so it’s nearly no surprise that the next step is that he’s on the bench in the Champions League and then he gets on, and how cool is that, he gets on against Werder Bremen. It’s brilliant, it really is,’’ Rufer said.
‘‘It should have been Marco Rojas but now it’s Sarpreet Singh and the coolest thing for me personally is that I coached these kids in Wynrs, the academy that I came back to New Zealand to help set up. My wife said ‘at least it’s sort of worked in a way, the sacrifice you made to come back’. It’s taken 20 years but it’s finally bearing some fruit.’’
Rojas signed for Stuttgart in 2013 but failed to make a single appearance.
Bayern have two more matches to play before the Bundesliga breaks for a month during winter – away against SC Freiburg on Thursday, then home against Wolfsburg next weekend.
‘‘It’s small steps and we’re all getting carried, which is all cool, but he just needs to keep chipping away and hopefully he doesn’t get too carried away and stays nice and humble.’’