Is this how it all went down for Bayern Munich and Thomas Müller?
Stories regarding a breakdown between Bayern Munich and Thomas Müller have been dropping all week, and now Sport Bild journalists Christian Falk and Tobi Altschäffl (via @iMiaSanMia) have put together a detailed report for how things have played out over the past few months, and how the 2014 World Cup winner is now facing the end of his time with the club:
After a first meeting with (Max) Eberl and (Christoph) Freund where, to Müller’s surprise, he wasn’t presented with a contract offer, there was another meeting last week between CEO (Jan-Christian) Dreesen and Müller’s camp. Dreesen pointed to the cost-cutting measures that Bayern are following due to the high financial costs of the squad. Müller, with a salary of up to €17 million, remains one of the club’s top earners. The CEO was unable to offer Müller a new contract, not even at a reduced salary.
The lack of any proposal should have been a harbinger of doom for Müller, but he remained optimistic until that last meeting with Dreesen. While finances are being listed as a reason for the lack of an offer, there is a still a real gray area as to why there was no effort made to try and find a way to make it work between the two parties:
Müller was surprised because during a first conversation back in November, Max Eberl told him that the club would like to keep him for another season. Müller asked for time until spring to think back then, because he was unsure whether he wanted to retire. In January, Eberl said publicly that if Müller wanted to stay, the talks would be very short. But instead of that, Müller was informed that he wouldn’t be offered a new contract. After the meeting, the situation was deadlocked.
For those hoping for a miracle and for Müller to find a way back to the club, it does not appear likely to happen:
There will be a final meeting between Bayern bosses and Thomas Müller this week, but the end of Müller’s time at Bayern has already been decided by the club. Now it’s about Müller deciding whether he will retire or play for another club — and Bayern preparing a worthy farewell for the club’s record appearance holder.
While most stories at this stage have pointed to the front office as the decision makers on Müller’s future, it appears that Vincent Kompany let it be known that Müller would not have any significant role in Bavaria next season:
Max Eberl and Christoph Freund spoke to Vincent Kompany about Thomas Müller. The coach highly appreciates Müller and acknowledges his importance to the team spirit and the squad. However, Kompany also made it clear that Müller should not expect more game time if he were to stay another season — quite the opposite.
Of course, there is now bitterness about the situation and some of it stems from public comments Uli Hoeneß made in February, which should have served as a spoiler alert for what the club had in store for Müller:
Thomas Müller’s camp didn’t like Uli Hoeneß’ statements back in February that a substitute role wasn’t worthy of Müller’s career and that he would advise him to retire. Hoeneß had already sent the first signal towards the end of Müller’s time at Bayern with his statement. What he insinuated was that from the supervisory board’s perspective, Müller’s salary is too high for a substitute player.
Again, though, one gap in this report is why there was not a discussion on whether or not the two sides could find a figure that was palatable for everyone. It appears that both sides know that Müller would have a limited role next season and given how the veteran has handled it this season, it seems extremely unlikely that Müller would be anything short of supportive and a great presence on the bench and in the locker room.
Alas, though, the option to be a deep reserve does not even appear to be on the table any longer. Now, Müller has to look at options in MLS if he wants to continue to play:
FC Cincinnati and San Diego FC are interested in Thomas Müller. But internally, Bayern are exploring a plan to find a mutual solution through their partner club Los Angeles FC and whether the MLS side can present Müller with a contract offer in order keep the links to the club and make him Bayern’s ambassador in the US.
Finally — and this will not be fulfilling for many of you — Müller will get a testimonial match:
Thomas Müller will definitely be given a testimonial match. That had already been agreed in the previous contract extension.
BFW Analysis
This is as comprehensive and detailed of an account on the situation as we have seen to date…but it still does not fill in what seems to be the last remaining gap — why there was not even an attempt to reach an agreement on a deal for a lower salary.
Was the club afraid to submit an offer that would be far lower than his current salary and have it be seen as disrespectful? Is the club just simply ready to move on? Has Bayern Munich transitioned into an analytically-driven entity that simply views players as assets — with Müller being one nearing his end of (playing) life?
Whatever the case, it seems as if fans are going to have to adjust to life after Thomas Müller.
Looking for more thoughts and analysis on the wild stories breaking about Bayern Munich star Thomas Müller and how (and why!) his tenure at the club could be coming to an end? What about a discussion on the latest Bayern Munich injury news, which will see the team even more shorthanded for the stretch run of the season? Awesome, then check out the Bavarian Podcast Works Show on Patreon, Spotify, or below:
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