Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has issued a stern ‘hands off’ warning to Manchester United and Chelsea amid their reputed interest in Thomas Muller. The precocious German has been one of the best players on show in South Africa, and Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti are both believed to have made tentative enquiries regarding the attacking midfielder.
Rummenigge claims Bayern Munich have no intention of selling their best players, including Philip Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger, who have been linked with Manchester City, and in fact, he believes their form at the World Cup finals will make the Bundesliga and Munich a more attractive proposition to Europe’s top players.
Muller has scored four goals in the tournament already and alongside Schweinsteiger and Werder Bremen starlet Mesut Ozil, have been the main architects of Germany’s impressive victories against England and Argentina. The 20-year-old was playing for Bayern Munich’s reserves a year ago, but he is now regarded as one of the finest youngsters on the continent and very much on the radar of Manchester United and Chelsea. Yet Rummenigge told any suitors coveting some of Germany’s top players that Muller and his Bayern teammates are not for sale.
Rummenigge is quoted by the Daily Mail, saying: 'If any club should make an approach for one of our players, it would be useless. Our reaction would always be the same: No way, absolutely no way.”
“We are not eager to start any negotiation about our players. We won't sell any of these players.
“The quality of our team is important. And we are in a very comfortable situation, in that we don't have financial pressure at all.
“The Bundesliga will gain importance worldwide. It will become more attractive due to the success of the German side.
“Muller is a phenomenon, Lahm a wonderful captain and Schweinsteiger leads the team like a general in the midfield. I would not be surprised if he is elected player of the tournament.'