Schweinsteiger agrees to join Man United
Red Devils and Bayern Munich confirm transfer to Old Trafford for 30-year-old German international midfielder
Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger is leaving Bayern Munich after 17 years for Manchester United where he will be reunited with coach Louis van Gaal, Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said yesterday.
Rummenigge told a news conference that the 30-year-old midfielder asked for a transfer during a meeting the previous day and that Munich had granted the request and all but finalised a deal with the 20-time English champions United.
“We have granted this request. We have agreed on a transfer with Manchester United,” Rummenigge said. “I regret it but I can understand that a player wants a new experience towards the end of his career.”
No details were disclosed but German and English news reports said that World Cup winner Schweinsteiger will get a three-year contract at Old Trafford.
Germany’s Bild paper estimated the transfer fee at up to €20 million (US$22.2 million) while England’s Manchester Evening News spoke of less than half the sum.
Rummenigge spoke of “a very fair solution for both sides. We have taken Bastian’s merits into consideration. The talks weren’t difficult. Bastian will undergo the medical, only then the transfer is formally done.”
United issued a short statement shortly afterwards, saying: “Manchester United is delighted to announce it has reached agreement with Bayern Munich to sign midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, subject to a medical and personal terms. A further announcement will be made when the process is complete.”
Bavarian Schweinsteiger joined Bayern youth sector as a 14-yearold and made his Bundesliga debut in 2002.
He has played 536 matches for them in all competitions, winning a Champions League, a record eight Bundesliga titles and a record seven German Cups.
Schweinsteiger has 111 Germany caps highlighted by last year’s World Cup title in Brazil and became captain afterwards following Philipp Lahm’s retirement from international football.
Schweinsteiger was a key player in defensive midfield under van Gaal when the Dutchman was Bayern coach between 2009 and 2011.
He has had several injury setbacks in recent years and appears not to be a preferred player by current Bayern coach Pep Guardiola who has an abundance of midfielders.
Rummenigge dismissed any suggestions that Schweinsteiger had “fled” Munich because of Guardiola and rather said that he wanted a new challenge in the dusk of his career, just like Rummenigge himself had when he went from Munich to Inter Milan.
“We tried to convince him to stay but I can understand a player who has been at Bayern for 17 years. He has a lot of merits. He has done great things and won everything in club football, with the highlight of the triple two years ago,” Rummenigge said.
“I wish him all the best. It will be an interesting task, It will be something new and inspirational for him. It will give him new drive. He will have to prove himself, on and off the pitch. It will be good for his life,” he said.
Rummenigge also said that Bayern will give Schweinsteiger a farewell match when he ends his career and possibly offer him a job in club management.
Earlier, van Gaal warned his confident new signing Memphis Depay to expect a massive culture shock when he makes his Premier League debut for Manchester United this season.
The 21-year-old was unveiled at Old Trafford as he completes the first week of preseason training with the club he joined for £25 million from PSV Eindhoven at the end of the last campaign.
“I think he is one of the few hightalented boys of his age in the world,” said van Gaal. “And you can hear he is full of confidence but he will notice it is not so easy in the Premier League.”
Meanwhile, Turkish top flight club Fenerbahce said the transfer of Manchester United’s Robin van Persie is a done deal and the Dutch striker will arrive in Istanbul this weekend.