Maxime Esteve recalls Vincent Kompany’s respectful call before Bayern Munich move
RB Leipzig defender Maxime Esteve has shared a revealing story about Vincent Kompany’s move from Burnley to Bayern Munich, recalling how the Belgian coach personally contacted him when negotiations with the German club became serious. Esteve says the call was not about a transfer offer. Instead, it was a thoughtful gesture rooted in a conversation the two had after Burnley were relegated from the Premier League.
Speaking to Sport1, the 24-year-old French centre-back addressed speculation that Kompany had considered bringing him to Bayern during the summer of 2024. Esteve said he could not confirm whether Bayern had been interested in signing him, but he remembered the circumstances surrounding Kompany’s departure from Burnley.
“I genuinely don’t know,” Esteve said when asked about the transfer rumours. He explained that, after Burnley’s final game of the season against Nottingham Forest, he had asked Kompany whether he intended to stay at the club despite its relegation. Kompany initially answered that he would.
When Bayern’s interest later developed into serious talks, however, the coach called Esteve to explain that he was leaving. For Esteve, the gesture mattered because Kompany could have moved on without revisiting their earlier conversation.
A call that left a lasting impression
Esteve described the conversation as a sign of respect and a reflection of Kompany’s character. The defender said the coach remembered what he had told him after the Nottingham match and made sure to provide an update once the situation changed.
“He didn’t have to do that,” Esteve said, adding that the call increased the respect he already had for his former manager. The story offers a personal glimpse into the relationship between the two men during a difficult period for Burnley, when relegation and uncertainty over the club’s future were dominating the conversation.
For players, a manager’s departure can be a routine part of football. But direct communication can make a difference, particularly when a coach has previously given a player a clear indication of his plans. Esteve’s account suggests Kompany wanted to handle the change honestly rather than leave his earlier promise unexplained.
Why Bayern turned to Kompany after Burnley’s relegation
Kompany’s appointment at Bayern Munich attracted considerable attention. Burnley had returned to the Premier League with an impressive Championship campaign but struggled to maintain that momentum in the top flight, suffering relegation after one season. Bayern, meanwhile, needed a successor to Thomas Tuchel, who was expected to leave at the end of the campaign.
The search for a new coach proved challenging. Several candidates were linked with the position, while Bayern’s attempt to persuade Tuchel to remain did not produce an agreement. Sporting director Max Eberl was among those who supported the idea of appointing Kompany, despite questions about whether a coach fresh from relegation could take charge of one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
The decision represented a bet on Kompany’s ideas, leadership and potential rather than on his most recent league finish. His reputation as a former Manchester City and Belgium captain, together with his work developing a possession-based style at Burnley, helped explain why Bayern viewed him as a candidate capable of building a team in his own image.
Esteve said he was not surprised by the coach’s progress in Munich. In his view, Kompany had already demonstrated the qualities needed to succeed, although Burnley did not always have the players in every position to execute his preferred approach at the highest level.
Esteve praises Kompany’s modern approach
Esteve described Kompany as a young coach with a modern football philosophy and a strong understanding of how to communicate with his squad. He said the manager can build a close connection with players while maintaining enough professional distance to protect standards and authority.
That balance can be especially important at a club such as Bayern, where expectations are high and competition for places is intense. A coach must persuade established internationals to buy into a tactical plan while also managing the pressure that comes with challenging for domestic and European honours. Esteve’s comments suggest that Kompany’s people skills are an important part of his work, alongside his tactical ideas.
The defender’s praise also carries the perspective of someone who experienced Kompany’s coaching first-hand. At Burnley, Esteve saw the manager attempt to establish a distinctive style in a demanding Premier League environment. He believes Bayern’s squad may be better suited to carrying out that approach, helping explain why the same football principles can produce different results in different settings.
Esteve’s move to Leipzig sets up a reunion
Esteve has since followed Kompany into the Bundesliga, though not to Bayern. After Burnley were relegated again, the defender joined RB Leipzig in a move reportedly worth around €25 million plus bonuses. The transfer brought him into a league where Bayern remain a central force—and placed him on the opposing side ahead of a reunion with his former coach.
Speculation has also linked Esteve with Bayern in later transfer windows, including rumours during the summer of 2025. However, the defender’s comments focused on the earlier call and the respect he continues to hold for Kompany, rather than confirming any concrete interest from Munich.
The upcoming meeting between Bayern and Leipzig therefore carries a personal storyline alongside its significance in the Bundesliga race. Bayern will be keen to respond after drawing 2-2 with Augsburg and 3-3 against Norwegian side Viking Stavanger in the Champions League. Results like those can raise questions about defensive control and consistency, even for a team with Bayern’s attacking resources.
Leipzig, meanwhile, have shown impressive form at home but have yet to collect their first away points. Their recent performances include a commanding 6-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt and a narrow 1-0 Champions League victory against PSV Eindhoven. Those results offer encouragement, although travelling to Munich presents a very different test.
What to watch in the Bayern-Leipzig clash
The match will give observers an opportunity to assess how Leipzig’s defence handles Bayern’s pressure and whether the visitors can translate their home form into a strong away performance. Esteve’s ability to organise the back line and cope with Bayern’s movement could be particularly important, while Kompany will know the defender’s strengths from their time together at Burnley.
Any football prediction for the fixture must account for both sides’ contrasting recent trends: Bayern’s dropped points and Leipzig’s away struggles. Their quality and tactical approaches make the contest difficult to call, with the match likely to hinge on defensive discipline, transitions and which team makes better use of its chances.
Whatever the result, the reunion will add a human dimension to a high-profile Bundesliga fixture. Esteve’s story is a reminder that football relationships are shaped not only by transfers and tactics, but also by the small gestures that build trust. Kompany’s call may have lasted only a short time, but it left his former player with a lasting impression—and now the pair will meet again from opposite sides of German football’s biggest stage.
