FC Bayern Munchen News

The Borussia Dortmund striker expressed a wish to move on during the transfer window, but the club’s sporting director has stressed he will not join the Bundesliga champions

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc insists Robert Lewandowski will not be sold to Bayern Munich this summer.

The Poland international has long been linked with a move to European champions Bayern and Manchester United, and revealed his belief earlier this week that Dortmund would not stand in the way of a “dream” transfer.

However, Zorc has since moved to clarify that BVB will not allow another of their prized assets to join the Bundesliga champions following the sale of Mario Gotze for €37 million last month.

“We have communicated to the player and his advisers that we will not allow a transfer to Bayern this summer,” Zorc told Kicker.

CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, meanwhile, expressed his belief that the 24-year-old will continue to apply himself professionally to Dortmund despite the ongoing speculation over his future.

“That he told us he wants to leave a few weeks ago is legitimate, but equally legitimate is when we point out our position with the current contract,” Watzke explained to Bild.

“He is perhaps now going through a small phase of disappointment, but then he will deliver his usual performance as a professional with character always does. And Robert has a lot of character.”

The Spaniard’s sibling Pere has revealed the lengths to which the next Bayern Munich boss has been preparing for his new post

Pep Guardiola has been learning German “like a madman” in preparation for his role with Bayern Munich next season, according to his brother Pere.

The former Barcelona coach is set to take charge of the European champions at the end of the month after agreeing a deal to replace current boss Jupp Heynckes during the winter.

His brother, who also acts as his representative, has revealed that the 42-year-old began taking German lessons as early as November while on sabbatical leave in New York, claiming his efforts to master the language have matched his usual meticulous approach to detail.

“Pep has been as always – obsessive,” Pere told Der Spiegel. “Four hours every day, like a madman. Only a stubborn dog does this.

“It is absurd. As you meet your brother for lunch, the guy is talking German continuously with his teacher!”

Guardiola is expected to lead his first training session with the treble-winners on June 26.

Die Roten midfielder wants to add to his growing collection of winners medals, rejecting the idea that Bayern Munich have reached the pinnacle of European football

Bastian Schweinsteiger says he is determined to gain more success at Bayern Munich, believing there is more to come from his side.

After the Bavarians’ treble this season, Schweinsteiger has now picked up 13 major trophies whilst at the club- six Bundesliga titles, six DFB-Pokals and a Champions League.

However, despite the incredible season die Roten enjoyed, the 28-year-old midfielder dismissed the idea that the team has now fulfilled their potential and stressed that he believes there is more to achieve.

“It looks very, very nice to see those 13 trophies- I’ve collected a real heap,” the Germany international said in an interview with Bild am Sonntag.

“And I have to say that it makes you hungry for more. I’m only 28 and actually, it’s the perfect football age. I feel now a great joy for the coming season. And I’m assuming that we’ll even add a few trophies.

“We all go with confidence into the new season. And again we have a world-class coach in [Pep] Guardiola. I’m very excited.”

However, despite securing a historic treble – becoming only the seventh European club to manage the feat of winning league title, domestic cup and European triumph in a single season – Schweinsteiger believes Barcelona still rank as Europe’s finest.

“In my eyes, Barcelona is still the number one club in Europe,” the midfielder continued.

“They have been so consistent at international level for the last six years. One can not immediately stand up and say after winning a big title: ‘We are now the new number one in Europe’.

“But in the first leg against Barcelona in Munich we reached perfection [the 4-0 Champions League semi-final win], we succeeded in our tactics. We made use of the previous season to bring on a really good development.

“Jupp Heynckes has managed to establish us as a true team. Now we really go as one both forwards and backwards. Even the attacking players have worked very hard defensively, which was the key to success.

“A team spirit has been created, which we benefited from this season – and from which we will benefit even more in the future.”

The French full-back has expressed his interest in joining die Roten and claims that, though nothing is settled, his former coach is extremely keen to bring him to Bavaria

Eric Abidal says he wants to sign for Bayern Munich and Pep Guardiola would be happy to welcome him to the club.

Abidal made an emotional return to the Barcelona first team in a 5-0 win over Mallorca in April after recovering from cancer surgery, but it was confirmed last month he would be leaving the Catalans at the end of the season.

Speaking to French football programme Telefoot, the 33-year-old Frenchman declared his intent to find a new club in the summer and says new Bayern Munich coach Guardiola is interested in signing him.

“Guardiola knows my situation and he would be delighted to have me on his team,” the former Olympique Lyonnais defender said.

“But the director and the chairman of Bayern have their words on the matter too.

“I would be pleased to join Bayern. I have a very good relationship with Franck Ribery. Bayern is among the best in Europe. Everything is possible. Do I have a preference ? I don’t. But Bayern would be good.”

Abidal, who played 193 times for the Blaugrana after joining in 2007, also mooted the possibility of him returning to Monaco where he began his professional career.
 
“I don’t know where I’ll play next season yet,” the France international admitted.

“But the most important thing is to have options such as Monaco. This is a move that would allow me to go full circle in my career.”

The Bayern Munich defender was frozen out at the Allianz Arena but says he has won his place back thanks to football experiences he had when he was young

Jerome Boateng says the fighting characteristics he learned as a child have helped get him back into the Bayern Munich first team.

Boateng, 24, fell out of favour in Jupp Heynckes’ side as Belgian defender Daniel Van Buyten was preferred to partner Dante in defence following Holger Badstuber’s injury.

The centre-back admitted it was tough to deal with being frozen out but his childhood experiences playing football helped him through it.

“It was a difficult two months,” Boateng told Bild. “But I’ve fought my way out of this stupid situation. I’m a fighter – I learned this as a child.

“As a child I played on the road against bigger players. Due to my technical skills I’ve always got by. No matter how often I was knocked to the ground, I always got up. Nothing knocks me down. It’s stayed with me even now.”

Boateng was involved in Bayern’s 2-1 Champions League final victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley but a dream night almost became a nightmare for the former Manchester City defender when he lost his winner’s medal.

Nick Zaccardi, a reporter for Sports Illustrated, found Boateng’s medal and sent it to him – prompting the German international to dub him “my hero of the month”.