FC Bayern Munchen News

The German legend wants to make sure that the Bavarians do not make the same mistake as rivals Borussia Dortmund have with the 20-year-old

Bayern Munich director Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insists Borussia Dortmund star Mario Gotze will have no buy-out clause in his contract when he signs for the club this summer.

The 20-year-old, who is one of Europe’s hottest attacking talents, reached an agreement with the German champions last month to move from BVB in the summer for a fee in the region of €37 million.

Rummenigge says Bayern won’t make the same mistake as their rivals, after Gotze had a buy-out-clause in his contract allowing him to move on without Dortmund having a say on the transfer.

“[Gotze’s agent] attempted to negotiate for a buy-out-clause, but this request has been rejected by us [Bayern Munich],” Rummenigge told Bild.

“None of our players have buy-out-clauses in their contracts.”

Dortmund are believed to be unhappy with the way Bayern have dealt with the signing of Gotze but Rummenigge has played down such allegations, citing Dortmund’s hurt at losing such a key player as the main reason for their anger.

“I don’t think Bayern lack class. I think our colleagues [Dortmund] are just disappointed to lose good players,” he said.

“I’d be angry as well if tomorrow someone snatched away Franck Ribery!”

With Dortmund already through to the Champions League final, Bayern look set to join them barring a disaster against Barcelona on Wednesday, due to their 4-0 advantage heading into the second leg.

The 57-year-old German legend says he dreams of the Bavarians becoming the most feared club side on the planet, ahead of their Champions League clash with Barcelona at Camp Nou

Bayern Munich director Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says his side aim to become the best side in the world over the next few years, as the German’s prepare to face Barcelona on Wednesday.

The Bavarians take a 4-0 lead to Camp Nou for their Champions League semi-final second leg clash and Rummenigge believes victory in this year’s competition could lead to future domination, especially with a domestic treble up for grabs this campaign.

“We have the dream to become the best team in the world,” he told Bild.

“We have that chance this season. We are already in the DFB-Pokal final. If we make it to Wembley, we could get the treble.”

Rummenigge is, however, still wary of the threat Barcelona possess and knows that there is every chance the Blaugrana will produce an impressive performance after such a disappointing result in the first leg.

“Barcelona have formidable attacking power, and they will throw themselves at us from the beginning,” he continued.

“They were 2-0 down after the first knockout round first leg against AC Milan, but scored after five minutes through Messi. They were very impressive against Milan. We want to prevent this against them.”

When asked about whether European football was seeing a changing of the guard – with Bayern replacing Barcelona at the summit – Rummenigge was respectful of the Catalunya giants.

He said: “I’m careful with the word ‘change’. Barcelona have dominated over six or seven years in Europe, and have won three times in the Champions League.

“We are with the big clubs in the world once again, but now we must work to ensure that we maintain this level in the coming years.”

The Welsh star picked up the PFA’s Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year award on Sunday and Wilie Duncan believes that the 23-year-old will remain at Spurs next season

Gareth Bale was left celebrating on Sunday night when the 23-year-old Wales international became only the third player in the history of the Professional Footballers’ Association to win the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards in the same season.

With Bale in such blistering form, there has been plenty of speculation as to whether he will remain a Tottenham player next season or opt for pastures new.

Coral are undecided on Bale’s future with the odds compilers offering 5/6 (1.83) that the flying Welshman remains at White Hart Lane beyond the summer while the same firm also go 5/6 (1.83) that this season may prove to be Bale’s swansong campaign in north London.

It has been suggested in some quarters that should Spurs fail to secure a top-four finish – and, subsequently, Champions League football next term – then it may prove pivotal in determining Bale’s future.

If the former Southampton star decide to move on, there is certain to be a number of suitors seeking his signature.

Real Madrid are believed to be at the head of that particular queue and the Spanish giants are chalked up as warm 6/4 (2.50) favourites with Coral to lure Bale to Santiago Bernabeu upon leaving north London while a move to Barcelona is considered to be an 8/1 (9.0) chance with the same firm.

If Bale opts to remain in England when he leaves White Hart Lane, newly-crowned Premier League champions Manchester United are believed to be favourites to snap up the Welshman.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side are rated as a 4/1 (5.0) chance with Coral to sign Bale while Manchester City are chalked up at 8/1 (9.0) with Coral to secure the Wales international’s services.

Bayern Munich are priced up at 7/1 (8.0) with Coral to take Bale to Bavaria while the same firm offer 10/1 (11.0) that Paris Saint-Germain is the 23-year-old’s next destination.

However, Bale appears to be extremely happy at White Hart Lane and the 23-year-old, who has scored 24 goals in all competitions for the Lilywhites this season, is reported to have established an excellent relationship with Andre Villas-Boas as the side continue to push for a Champions League place.

The Portuguese manager, then, could prove crucial to Spurs as they seek to hang onto their most prized asset this summer and the 5/6 (1.83) quote from Coral for Bale to remain at White Hart Lane is the recommended play here.

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Willie Duncan is a freelance sports journalist. Willie, from Edinburgh, has covered Scottish football for over 10 years and he specialises in football betting markets from across Europe. You can also follow Willie on Twitter

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The former Scotland striker, who was signed by the Catalan club to replace Diego Maradona in the 1980s, believes Leo can inspire a turnaround on Wednesday

EXCLUSIVE
By Pilar Suarez | Barcelona Correspondent

Former Barcelona striker Steve Archibald says Lionel Messi’s lack of fitness meant the Blaugrana played with 10 men during the 4-0 defeat to Bayern Munich last week but is confident the Argentine can inspire his side to a comeback in the Camp Nou return.

The 25-year-old started in Munich but was a shadow of his usual self as he and his team-mates toiled at the Allianz Arena and eventually lost 4-0 to Jupp Heynckes’ side.

“It was surprising but it is easy to see what happened to Barca,” the Scot exclusively told Goal.com.

“Messi wasn’t on form. To play against Bayern, in Germany, you need a whole team and all of them on form and strong – it’s difficult. But you can’t go there and play with 10 men – and that’s what Barcelona did.

“They took a risk with Messi and it didn’t work. It affected the other players and it ended up affecting the result as well.”

Nevertheless, the former Tottenham forward does not believe Barca rely too heavily on the Argentine.

“Everybody says that Barcelona don’t have a Plan B, but up until now they haven’t needed one,” he explained. “It’s like any big club – the biggest clubs depend on one, two or three players.

“Madrid are the same with [Cristiano] Ronaldo, but Barcelona play a different way to all the others and they truly need Messi to be functioning so the system can work correctly at that level.”

Great Scot | Archibald in action for Barcelona against Juventus

And Archibald, who played for Barcelona between 1984 and 1988 and won La Liga in his first season, says Messi can lead the Catalans to a memorable comeback on Wednesday.

“It’s reasonable to think they can [come back],” he continued. “Messi has scored lots of goals. He has scored three or four in many games on his own, so it’s not unreasonable to think that if Messi is on form, Barcelona can go through.”

The former striker, who also had a spell at Espanyol, also claims a fit Messi could have influenced the result in Germany last week.

“Bayern pressed high up the pitch and that was very risky. If Messi had been on form and strong, he would have driven them crazy, but they pressed to test him and Barcelona, and they saw he wasn’t on form. There’s no going back now.”

Nevertheless, Archibald would like to see Barcelona sign a traditional centre-forward like Borussia Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski, a player he previously recommended to many clubs.

“I have said it for a long time: Barcelona would benefit from having a typical No.9. But you can’t criticise them because they have been the most successful team on the planet and scored lots of goals.

“The time will come when they will change system and play with a classic No.9. They could use Lewandowski, for example: a No.9 with good movement, who is strong, scores goals and is good in the air.”

The Frenchman has set his sights on success on all three fronts and is confident the Bundesliga champions will eliminate Barcelona in Europe

Franck Ribery feels that Bayern Munich take Barcelona’s place as the best team in the world if they win the treble this season.

The Bavarians have already secured the Bundesliga title, have a foot in the Champions League final after a 4-0 first-leg win over the Catalans in the semi-finals and face Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal showpiece.

“It’s fair to say that we will be the best team in the world if we really win the treble. Also because we will then have eliminated Barcelona, who were the best team in the world before,” Ribery told Bild.

“We are already Bundesliga champions and our chances of winning two more major titles are better than ever before.

“Winning the Champions League has always been my dream and I will do anything to achieve it.”

The Frenchman then had his say on Wednesday’s return against Barca and is confident that Bayern will make it to the final.

“We won the home game 4-0, but we will see another Barcelona in the return. I’d say that we’re for 80 per cent in the final,” he added.

“We will make it on Wednesday if we put in another performance like in the first leg.”

Wednesday’s match at Camp Nou kicks off at 20:45CET.