Bayern's 'football god' Bastian Schweinsteiger off to Manchester United
Berlin: Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger is poised to end his hugely successful Bayern Munich career after it was announced Saturday he will join Manchester United, subject to passing a medical.
Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said United have already agreed an undisclosed transfer fee, which German daily Bild report will be between 18 and 20 million euros, for the 30-year-old defensive midfielder, who has made 536 appearances for Bayern since 2002.
Schweinsteiger, a World Cup winner in 2014, is set to become the first German to play for the #mufc first team. pic.twitter.com/e62homEHv7
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 11, 2015Schweinsteiger informed the German champions on Friday that he wanted a change of scenery and is expected to sign a three-year contract with the Red Devils.
"Bastian and I had a serious conversation on Friday. He told me he has been thinking about his career and wants to try something new," said Rummenigge.
"He asked me to find a way and things between Manchester United and Bayern Munich have been clarified, we have agreed on a fair transfer fee. We have taken into account that Bastian is a very deserving player. We tried to convince him to stay with Bayern Munich, but I completely understand that after 17 years with us, he wants to experience something new,” he added.
"His nickname (with Bayern supporters) is 'football God' and it doesn't happen very often that the fans shoot so high with a figure whom they identify. But at some point, a career has to end and now we're required to manage his transition," he pointed out.
Check out our profile of Bastian Schweinsteiger: http://t.co/uMBd6EhZ5U pic.twitter.com/GVTLQylCGo
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 11, 2015The British media report Schweinsteiger will receive $140,000 per week in Manchester, which matches the 10 million euros he was receiving in Munich.
United confirmed the arrival of what is the first ever German player to join the club in a statement on their official website. "Manchester United is delighted to announce it has reached an agreement with Bayern Munich to sign midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, subject to medical and personal terms," the statement announced.
Rummenigge said Schweinsteiger had turned down the chance to take part in Saturday's Bayern team presentation at the Allianz Arena to bid farewell. The news was received with some boos and whistles from fans in the stadium, which grew quiet when Rummenigge told the 70,000-strong crowd: "it is what Basti wanted".
Schweinsteiger comes to Old Trafford with a vast wealth of experience having helped Germany win the 2014 World Cup and has lifted the German league title eight times with Bayern and the German Cup on seven occasions.
He was part of the Bayern team which won the 2013 treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup titles under Jupp Heynckes and went on to win the Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup at the end of the year.
Schweinsteiger has won 111 caps for Germany, playing in three World Cup finals, and he succeeded Philipp Lahm as captain of the world champions after their Brazil 2014 triumph.
