FC Bayern Munchen News

The Germany international has been linked with a departure from the Allianz Arena but he claims such talk is premature as he “feels good” in Munich

Thomas Muller has insisted he wants to stay at Bayern Munich, dismissing reports that he could move to Manchester United this summer.

Along with fellow Bavarian star Bastian Schweinsteiger, Muller has been the subject of a lot of speculation, with reports suggesting he could swap the Allianz Arena for Old Trafford and link up with former coach Louis van Gaal again.

Though he sees attention from other top clubs as a compliment, the Germany international claims he has no intention of bailing on a Bayern contract which has another four years to run.

“When a transfer request comes in, you automatically deal with it,” Muller told Bild. “A request from another big club is an honour and a telling reward that one’s performances are good.

“But I feel good at Bayern and my deal runs until 2019. It’s better to ignore speculation [such as Manchester United talk].”

Muller has been at Bayern since 2000, breaking through the youth ranks into the senior set-up in 2008, and he has won four league titles, three DFB-Pokal trophies and one Champions League in the past seven years.

But the 25-year-old thinks modern football can often work against young players as clubs craving immediate results will turn to players they have recently splashed cash on, ignoring their academy recruits.

“Who plays on the pitch for Bayern is ultimately decided by who is best for the team,” he added. “However, getting recognition internally at a top club can perhaps be more difficult for a youth player.

“When you’re bought by a club, your performances become their responsibility as they’ve paid a lot of money for a transfer, so they want to have faith in you.

“On the other hand, if you’re already at a club, the club can often just assume you’ll stay there. I don’t find it hard to prove myself every season but maybe that’s because my position is so flexible.

“But very good, new players are brought in every season by Bayern and the race for a starting position starts again from the beginning.”

The Swedish striker had an infamously tumultuous relationship with his former Barca coach, as the Catalan club’s presidential candidate explains

Barcelona presidential candidate has revealed Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s agent told him the forward wanted to punch Pep Guardiola.

The Swedish striker spent an infamously ill-fated season at Camp Nou in 2009-10, where his relationship with the head coach soured to an unworkable point, leading to his exit to AC Milan the following campaign.

Mino Raiola, the agent of the current Paris Saint-Germain star, is also the man in charge of Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba’s fate as clubs gather to try to lure him away for a large sum of money this summer.

Speaking ahead of July 18’s Barca presidential elections, Bartomeu went into detail about his intriguing anecdotal experience with Raiola five years ago.

“I know agent Mino Raiola very well having negotiated with him before,” he told reporters on Monday. “I dealt with him over Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2010, for instance.

“I had many meetings with Mino. In one, he told me: ‘Ibra will punch Pep one of these days’.

“Mino is a very friendly and very funny guy but one must look at his pocket. He makes a living ridiculously well. He is a specialist at players changing teams.”

Bartomeu claims that voting him in as Barca’s chief will guarantee a brand new midfielder, though he refused to note whether that would be Pogba.

“The board was asked to secure a specific midfielder,” he continued. “Now we have convinced him to join us, though I cannot reveal his name yet.

Bartomeu – who was in charge at Camp Nou from January 2014 until the end of 2014-15 when the presidential election race began – also dismissed Joan Laporta’s critical comments regarding the interim board’s activities.

“I’ve resigned, but the club continues to work on what was agreed on in April,” he added. “We cannot allow the stop to remain paralysed and static because rivals with take advantage.

“The sale of Gerard Deulofeu to Everton was criticised the other day. For god sake, it was a pre-agreed sale!”

The Brazil star is waiting on the Germany champions to agree a deal with his current club Shakhtar Donetsk before he join Pep Guardiola’s side

Shakhtar Donetsk’s Douglas Costa says he would relish a move to Bayern Munich, confirming he is just waiting on the two clubs to agree a deal.

The Brazilian has been heavily linked with swapping the Donbass Arena for Bavaria after six impressive seasons in the Ukrainian Premier League.

His coach Mircea Lucescu all but confirmed the deal last week – suggesting Costa could be the new Arjen Robben at the Allianz Arena.

However, with neither club having announced the deal, Brazil international Costa says he is yet to reach an agreement to make the move.

“Up to now, they have not come to an agreement yet,” Costa told Sport Bild.

“Discussions have taken place between my club and Bayern, but so far I know nothing more than the interest of FC Bayern.

“I have been focused on the Copa America. After my time here [in Chile], I’ll talk to my agent. Who would not like to play at Bayern?”

Costa came off the bench to feature in Brazil’s penalty exit at the hands of Paraguay in Saturday’s quarter-final, failing to convert his spot-kick as Dunga’s men bowed out 4-3.

The ex-Brazil international says that his compatriot has what it takes to thrive in Bavaria – if there is not too much pressure placed upon him

Former Bayern Munich striker Giovane Elber believes that Douglas Costa could prove a fine replacement for either Franck Ribery or Arjen Robben ahead of his expected move, but stresses that he must be given time to settle at the Allianz Arena.

Shakhtar Donetsk star Costa is set to complete a €35 million move to Bavaria, with the Ukrainian side’s coach, Mircea Lucescu, admitting earlier this week that the Bundesliga champions are desperate to wrap up a deal for the 24-year-old.

Elber can also understand Bayern’s interest in the Brazil international, with wing wonders Ribery and Robben now 32 and 31, respectively.

“Bayern are always looking forward,” the 42-year-old told Bild. “We know that Ribery and Robben’s time will eventually be over. And then Bayern has to replace them.

“Douglas can create, but it is not an easy task for him. One hopes, of course, that the boy quickly becomes a hit.

“But one must not put too much pressure on him. He has to start slowly so that he can be integrated into the team and Bayern’s system, as well as life in Germany.”

Costa, who missed a penalty in the shootout as Brazil were eliminated from the Copa America by Paraguay on Saturday, joined Shakhtar from Gremio in 2010 and has helped the side win five successive Ukrainian Premier League titles.

The Shakhtar coach has confirmed that the Brazilian will be on his way to Bayern Munich this summer and has tipped him to be a success

Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu expects Douglas Costa to reach Arjen Robben’s heights when he completes his expected move to Bayern Munich. 

The Brazil international – currently on Copa America duty in Chile – looks set to make the switch to the Allianz Arena after spending six seasons with the Ukrainian side.

While Bayern are yet to confirm the deal, Lucescu did little to play down the rumours, suggesting Costa can make the same impact Netherlands winger Robben has with the Bavarian giants. 

“It seems normal to me that they wanted him so much,” he told  Dolce Sport .

“Inter were also in the chase for Douglas – the boy can be the new Robben!

“He’s only 24-years-old and could reach Robben’s level in the coming years.”

Lucescu was also quizzed on the future of striker Luiz Adriano, who scored 21 goals in all competitions for the Ukrainian side last term. 

“Luiz Adriano does not want to extend his contract. We have agreed a fee with Al Ahli, but the player does not want to go to the Emirates,” Lucescu added.

“But maybe they will compete with other clubs such as Roma, Milan, Monaco, those who have wanted him in the winter.

“He has six months left on his contract, but it would be good for us to get some money for him.”