FC Bayern Munchen News

The attacking midfielder has been linked with a move to the Allianz Arena, but he prefers a move to Bay Arena instead

Hakan Calhanoglu’s agent – Bektas Demirtas – has dismissed suggestions that the Hamburg midfielder is on his way to Bayern Munich and has stressed that Bayer Leverkusen are the favourites to sign the 20-year-old instead.

Calhanoglu recently admitted that he felt honoured Bayern are keeping tabs on him following an impressive breakthrough season with Hamburg, in which he scored 11 goals in 32 Bundesliga games, but he is not interested in a move to the Bundesliga champions or abroad at this stage of his career.

“A move to a foreign club is not in question. Bayern also plays no role, we have never favoured a move to Munich. From the perspective of the player, the environment at Leverkusen is favoured,” Demirtas told Bild. 

“It would be the next step for Hakan to play internationally.

“They are a club who are playing in Europe, who would like to buy him and who are also prepared to pay the right price for him.

“It is important that the boy is playing. We have to think in the medium to long term.”

The Turkey international signed a new contract to keep him at the Imtech Arena until 2018 earlier this year, but HSV could be tempted to cash in on their prized asset if they drop to 2. Bundesliga.

Hamburg face a relegation play-off with Greuther Furth in order to preserve their place in the German top flight later this month.

The Germany international has nothing but praise for the prolific attacker and is eagerly anticipating the DFB Pokal final against Bayern Munich on Saturday

Borussia Dortmund defender Marcel Schmelzer has admitted that Robert Lewandowski’s transfer to Bayern Munich this summer is a big blow for BVB and has little doubt the Poland international will succeed at his new club.

The 25-year-old striker will join the Bundesliga champions on a free transfer at the end of the season after four years at Signal Iduna Park and Schmelzer is sad to see his team-mate go.

“On the one hand, it’s a shame we’re losing such a world-class player, but on the other hand we want to wish him all the best because he’s given us so many enjoyable moments as a team,” Schmelzer told the official Bundesliga website.

“For us, he’s always been one of those players that guarantees success and he scored a lot of important goals.”

The left-back also briefly discussed this weekend’s DFB Pokal final against Bayern and stressed that Dortmund are determined to beat their domestic rivals and end the season on a high.

“In the last two years, in the finals, the fans were phenomenal,” he enthused. “Hopefully, we’ll beat Bayern and win the cup again this time.

“It’s a final that both teams want to win, which is why it’ll be a completely different game than our win over Hertha at the weekend. Of course, we’re really looking forward to it. 

“In these kind of finals you have a 50-50 chance. In that respect, it doesn’t matter who’s on their game. The 90, or even 120, minutes are all that matter.”

Dortmund and Bayern last met in the DFB Pokal final in 2011-12, when BVB recorded a 5-2 win over their great rivals.

The Dutchman has no regrets over moving to the Allianz Arena from the Santiago Bernabeu four years ago, and is now looking forward to Saturday’s DFB-Pokal final against Dortmund

Arjen Robben believes that leaving Real Madrid for Bayern Munich in the summer of 2009 was the best decision of his life.

The Netherlands international said farewell to the Spanish giants after just two years at the Santiago Bernabeu and has since developed into a key player at the Bavarians.

Robben won the treble with Bayern last season and he has no regrets whatsoever over his decision to leave the Spanish capital.

“Leaving Madrid for Bayern was the best decision of my life,” the Dutchman told the official Bayern website.

The 30-year-old then went on to discuss the upcoming DFB Pokal final against Borussia Dortmund and acknowledged that it will not be an easy game for Bayern.

“If we perform to our potential and play as a team we have it in us to win the cup. It’s a very good season, and if we win the cup we can call it superb.

“We know all about their quality. They’re a superb team, so we know what to expect. We’re playing a great team, and those are always the matches you look forward to.”

The DFB Pokal final is scheduled to take place in Berlin on May 17.

Eddie Johnson is the most notable omission from the 30-man party which will be reduced to 23 on June 2, with Bayern’s Julian Green earning a place

USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann named stars Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan in his 30-man provisional World Cup squad on Monday.

Premier League goalkeeping duo Tim Howard and Brad Guzan are also included, along with Stoke’s Geoff Cameron, Julian Green of Bayern Munich and former Roma man Michael Bradely, now of Toronto.

The most notable omission is D.C. United forward Eddie Johnson, who was a regular during the qualifying campaign but saw a dip in form and the emergence of Green  end his World Cup dream. Bolton’s Tim Ream and Puebla’s Michael Orozco were also cited by Klinsmann as near-misses.

Tijuana midfeidler Joe Corona also earned an eyebrow-raising recall after playing only four minutes of the final round of World Cup qualifying, though he did play a role in the 2013 Gold Cup title.

The squad will report to Palo Alto, California, where it will train at Stanford University before the final squad is confirmed June 2.

The full squad:

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders)

Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

The attacking midfielder feels that Pep Guardiola’s side play football the way it should be played and says people should not forget they “dominated” for long periods against Re…

Mario Gotze has admitted that Bayern Munich are still hurting after their Champions League heartbreak but says he remains proud that Pep Guardiola’s men bowed out playing their possession-based brand of football rather than resorting to Chelsea’s preferred tactic of ‘parking the bus’.

The Bavarians were beaten 5-0 on aggregate by Real Madrid in this season’s semi-finals, slumping to a shock 4-0 loss at the Allianz Arena less than a week after a narrow 1-0 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Guardiola and his players were criticised for placing too much importance on keeping the ball, but Gotze is glad that Bayern stuck to their attacking principles instead of trying to imitate the defensive tactics of a side like Chelsea, who were beaten 3-1 on aggregate by Atletico Madrid in the other last-four clash – despite battling their way to a dour 0-0 draw in the first leg at the Vicente Calderon.

“[The Madrid defeat] does hurt,” Gotze told his club’s official website. “We had a bad day in the second leg. But you shouldn’t forget how we played at Real Madrid when we dominated the game for long periods.

“Obviously, you can do it like Chelsea did at Atletico and park the bus in your own penalty area. That’s not our style. I’m firmly convinced we play football the way it should be played. And the way we play suits me perfectly.”

However, Gotze’s performances during his first season at the Allianz Arena following last summer’s €37 million switch from Borussia Dortmund have been the subject of much debate, with some pundits arguing that he has played poorly, with others claiming that he has not been properly utilised by Guardiola.

Gotze, though, is pleased with his debut campaign with Bayern has gone, pointing out that he has had to cope with a number of physical problems.

“[Joining Bayern] was a big step for me, there’s no doubt about that,” the Germany international mused. “Unfortunately, it was difficult at the beginning due to injury.

“But I really fitted in after that. I feel at home here now and I’m proud to be part of FC Bayern. I hope I can stay fit and healthy. I’ve got big plans for next season.

“At the end of the day football is football. Of course, we play with a different philosophy here at Bayern. But my ability hasn’t changed. I need to show what I can do and that’s what matters.”