FC Bayern Munchen News

The German powerhouse remain adamant they have not given the striker any guarantees, but the attacker is still confident he will exit the club

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has insisted BVB never promised Robert Lewandowski he could leave the club.

The Champions League runners-up stated earlier this week they will not sell the Poland international to Bayern Munich this summer, much to the attacker’s dismay, who claimed Watzke promised him he could leave if a number of conditions were met.

However, the Dortmund CEO has denied they made any such guarantees to the 24-year-old.

“I never gave Lewandowski my word that he would be allowed to leave or made any other promises. That’s all there is to say about this subject,” Watzke told Bild.

Lewandowski has a contract with Dortmund until June 2014, but he is determined to leave the club this summer and remains confident he will have his way.

“I know exactly what they told me. I hope things can be completed as soon as possible,” the attacker said.

Although BVB have no intention of selling the striker to Bayern, Watzke did admit they could let Lewandowski move to another club if their valuation of the player is met.

Aside from Bayern, sides such as Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United have also shown an interest in the prolific hitman.

The 29-year-old is so enthused by the prospect of competing in the tournament on home soil that he has memorised the entire fixture list

Brazil defender Dante is so excited about the start of the Confederations Cup this week that he has memorised all of the tournament’s fixtures.

The Selecao begin their campaign against Japan on Saturday in the competition billed as the warm-up to next summer’s World Cup finals, and Bayern Munich stopper Dante claims it has been difficult to think of much else in the build-up to the tournament.

“I’ve been thinking about nothing else for a very long time. Seriously. I have memorised all of the fixtures in the competition,” he told reporters.

The Selecao face Italy in Dante’s home town of Salvador de Bahia on June 22, and the 29-year-old revealed a number of his relations will turn out to watch the fixture.

“Almost my entire family will be there. My mother, my siblings and my father are coming so it is impossible not to think about it,” he added.

Dante’s Bayern team-mate Luis Gustavo echoed his compatriot’s sentiments, adding: “The Fifa Confederations Cup is very important for us, the whole country is looking forward to the tournament.”

Brazil go into the competition as defending champions having triumped in 2009.

The Netherlands striker went third in Oranje’s all-time scorers list but insists that he is only focused on winning matches as a collective

Netherlands striker Robin van Persie says that personal landmarks are not as important to him as the team’s success.

The Manchester United star netted his 35th Oranje goal in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over 10-man China and now sits just five strikes behind all-time top scorer Patrick Kluivert.

However, the 29-year-old has insisted that he is only focused on helping his side and was happy with the work-out in Beijing.

“The fact that I made my 35th goal isn’t that important. It’s a nice extra but we have to focus on our matches,” he told SBS6.

“It sounds weird, but we didn’t hope for [the red card]. We wanted to make a real contest of this match.”

Van Persie is now off duty until Manchester United meet up in Australia in July and the striker said he welcomes the break.

“Now I’m going to enjoy my vacation and I can really use one,” he continued.

“It’s not very long but I do look forward to it. In the first week of July I have to travel to Australia on my own. I don’t want to think about that now.”

Winger Arjen Robben added that he had found his nation’s tour of the Far East very helpful.

“It was a very useful trip for us, because the circumstances were difficult and we had to adapt to that.”

The 20-year-old midfielder has been urged by his Brazilian team-mate to make the move to Germany rather than England

Brazil defender Dante has advised his international team-mate, Bernard, to choose Borussia Dortmund over Tottenham.

The Atletico Mineiro midfielder is set to leave the Brazilian outfit this summer and has been targeted by Andre Villas-Boas for a move to the Premier League but the Bayern Munich centre-back believes that the 20-year-old’s physical stature is better suited to the Bundesliga.

“I talked a bit with Bernard and I explained the philosophy of this country. He is a talented boy who will adapt to Germany,” Dante told Terra.

“If that is his desire then I hope he will do it. I gave him some tips.”

The midfielder, who stands at 5ft 4in, would find it easier to adapt with his other suitors, Dortmund, according to the Bayern defender.

“He may not have a physique like many other players but he is a player who would suit Borussia Dortmund’s style of play,” the centre-back observed.

Bernard has scored 11 goals in 59 appearances for Atletico Mineiro, plus another 14 in 16 games during a loan spell at Democrata, earning him three international appearances with the Brazil national team.

The relationship between both Bundesliga giants has turned sour in the past few months, but there will not be any talks in the foreseeable future

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has insisted that there will not be a peace summit with Bayern Munich in order to try and improve the relationship between the two clubs.

Things have turned sour between both Champions League finalists in recent months following the transfer of Mario Gotze from BVB to Bayern and the ongoing speculation surrounding the future of Robert Lewandowski.

However, Watzke feels there’s no need for peace talks just yet as they still enjoy a sufficient working relationship.

“There will not be a peace summit with Bayern. There is really no need to discuss anything with Bayern president Uli Hoeness,” Watzke told Bild.

“I have kept a close eye on all developments in the past few months. We have a professional relationship. That’s all we need.

“When I last spoke to Hoeness? At half-time during the Champions League final. I will keep it to myself what we talked about…”

Watzke stressed earlier this week that Dortmund will not allow Lewandowski to join Bayern, but admitted that they could sell the striker to another club for the right price.