Bayern’s honourary president has voiced his disappointment with the Germany international’s development and has suggested time is running out for the attacking midfielder
Bayern Munich legend Franz Beckenbauer has hit out at Mario Gotze, urging him to “grow up” if he wants to succeed at the Bundesliga champions.
The 22-year-old has won back-to-back Bundesliga titles with Bayern since joining the club from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2013, but has yet to develop into an undisputed starter for the Allianz Arena side.
Gotze was benched for Wednesday’s 3-0 Champions League semi-final first-leg defeat against Barcelona after he was previously already dropped for the DFB-Pokal semi-final against Dortmund and Beckenbauer has now criticised Germany’s 2014 World Cup hero’s attitude.
“He behaves and moves around on the pitch like a youth player. He just stops moving when he loses a duel. This is the behaviour of a child,” Beckenbauer told Sky.
“This kind of behaviour does not fit in at Bayern. It is time for him to grow up.
“He has shown at Dortmund what he can do and we know that he is a great talent. But there is still something missing.”
Gotze has made 44 appearances in all competitions for Bayern this term, scoring 15 goals in the process.