Bayern Munich 'turned down huge offer for Thomas Muller'

04 September 2015 08:46

Bayern Munich president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says he turned down an extremely lucrative offer for forward Thomas Muller this summer, although did not disclose details on where the bid came from.

With both Manchester United and Real Madrid linked with the player, the Bundesliga champions refused to sell Muller during the transfer window but Rummenigge revealed there had been a hefty sum on the table at one point.

"I'm talking about figures which were very high indeed," he said. "If I were a bank manager then I would have had to accept it.

"But as a football club we allowed ourselves to close the door on it, and this door is remaining closed. I can promise that to everybody.

"But one thing is for certain, in view of the increased television money in England things are not going to get any easier for Bayern in future."

That influx of money from next season is set to make the Barclays Premier League even more enticing when it comes to signing the top players in future.

However, Rummenigge has praised English clubs for the way they are being run, saying their potential success is not going to be down to money alone but rather how they have invested it.

"I've taken a look at Manchester City's youth academy and all I can say is it doesn't get any better than that," Rummenigge told the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

"I have also visited Tottenham's, Arsenal's and Chelsea's and it's the same wherever you go.

"I can tell you that the English are going all out, also in terms of youth development."

Source: PA