Thomas Muller, a beloved figure at Bayern Munich, has announced that he will depart from the German giants at the conclusion of the season after a remarkable 25 years filled with trophies, as he revealed on Saturday. The decision comes as he was not offered a new contract.
In a heartfelt message shared on social media, the 35-year-old attacking midfielder, who began his journey as a youth player, expressed a desire to continue with the club, having claimed a record 12 league titles – the most by any player in Bundesliga history.
“Despite all these years, regardless of how many minutes I get to play, being on the pitch with my teammates and competing for titles is something I thoroughly enjoy. I could have easily envisioned taking on a similar role next year,” he stated.
“However, the club made a conscious decision not to pursue a new contract with me for the upcoming season. While this was not what I personally desired, it’s crucial for the club to adhere to its principles. I respect this decision, which I’m sure the board and supervisory board did not make lightly.”
He did not hint at what his next career move might be.
Once a mainstay in the starting XI, Muller has seen his playing time diminish significantly over the past two seasons and currently occupies a lesser role under coach Vincent Kompany.
His future has been the centre of speculation for several months, but both he and the club have remained tight-lipped up until now. Although there are no signs that Muller intends to retire from football shortly, Bayern has suggested that they would like him to remain involved with the club after his playing career concludes.
Bayern confirmed that the decision to part ways was mutual, with Muller set to make his final appearances for the club at the Club World Cup in the United States during June and July.
“Thomas Muller embodies the ideal Bavarian football career,” said club president Herbert Hainer in a statement.
“With the most German championships won by any player and a total of 33 titles, he stands alongside the most distinguished figures in FC Bayern’s history.”
A one-club player, an increasingly rare phenomenon in modern football, Muller has also celebrated two Champions League titles, two Club World Cups, and six German Cups, among other accolades. He played a pivotal role in Germany’s triumph at the 2014 World Cup.
This season, Muller has the opportunity to further embellish his illustrious trophy collection, with Bayern currently leading the league by a nine-point margin. They are also set to face Italy’s Inter Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals next week.
The Champions League final is scheduled to take place at Munich’s Allianz Arena.
“At this point, our entire focus is on achieving our sporting objectives for the season,” Muller remarked. “It would be a dream to bring the league trophy back home and reach the long-awaited final at our home ground at the end of May.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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