Michael Olise came off the bench against Belgium with France losing 1-0. Fourteen minutes later, the game was done — four goals, three with his fingerprints on them. Two scored, one assisted. That's not a cameo. That's a takeover.
Across Zinedine Zidane's first four games in charge of Les Bleus, France have scored seven goals. Olise has been directly involved in six of them — four goals, two assists. Kylian Mbappé, France's all-time leading scorer, hasn't been available. The crowd at the Stade de France hasn't seemed to notice.
Numbers that reset the market
In 29 appearances for France, Olise has 11 goals and 12 assists. He finished the most recent World Cup as the leading assist provider with seven — and that was playing centrally, not in the right-wing role Zidane has since restored him to. At Bayern this season, it's eight goals and four assists in seven games.
These are not warm-up numbers. These are the numbers of someone playing at the peak of what European football currently offers.
Which is precisely why Bayern's valuation makes sense, even if it makes a transfer almost impossible. The Bavarians are rejecting everything below €200 million. For context: Barcola moved for €140 million. Olise at €200m is arguably conservative if current form continues, and whoever prices next summer's market will be looking at these Belgium highlights on repeat.
The Real Madrid problem isn't going away
Reports from France suggest Madrid remains Olise's personal preference. Bayern blocked every approach last summer and have no intention of selling. The problem is that contract extension talks have stalled, and the player's camp is reportedly open to moving in 2027 — when Olise will be 25 and potentially at the absolute peak of his career.
Bayern are trying to hold a player who would rather be somewhere else, at a price almost nobody can meet. That's not a comfortable position to be in.
There's also the historical footnote worth flagging: Olise is the first player ever to represent France at senior level without having played club football in France. Developed in England, signed by Palace, poached by Bayern — and now, arguably, the most important player in the French squad. The FFF moved quickly to tie him to Les Bleus early, and that decision is paying dividends France are still counting.
Spain, in the World Cup semifinals, are the only team to have successfully contained him. That's the bracket he's operating in now. Any odds on Olise underperforming for France at the next major tournament should be treated with serious skepticism.
Bayern's grip is loosening, even if the transfer fee is climbing. By 2027, €200 million might look like a bargain.
