Mueller laughs off United’s ‘crazy’ reported 100m bid

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Bayern Munich’s Thomas Mueller has laughed off
reports Manchester United want to sign him for
up to 100 million euros (£70m, $109m) with the
Germany star describing the exorbitant sum as
‘crazy’.
German daily Bild has quoted the figure, but
Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has
said the 25-year-old forward is not for sale and
the Germany international laughed off the figure.
“It’s basically crazy the numbers which are
currently kicking around in football — that’s just
business,” Mueller told German broadcaster
Sport1 with United having already signed
Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger in July.
“No one is worth 100 million euros, it’s just a
trade figure, so I am quite relaxed about the
whole thing.”
However, Mueller says an encounter with a fan on
Monday after a testimonial match against
Dynamo Dresden gave him food for thought. “In Dresden, a fan addressed me with a
megaphone: “Hey 100 million man, what is your
playing shirt worth?’ That made me smile,” added
Mueller, after Bayern’s 3-1 win over the third
division side.
Bayern opened the new German league season
last Friday with a 5-0 drubbing of Hamburg in
Munich.
The Bavarian giants are bidding to become the
first side to win four straight league titles and
Mueller says Pep Guardiola’s side are eager to
repeat their 2013 treble of Champions League,
Bundesliga and German Cup titles.
“We don’t have to win it (the treble), but we want
to,” said Mueller.
“From the potential we have, we belong to the
group of favourite in the Champions League,” said
Mueller.
“But the semi-finals or quarter-finals are always
very close games, so you need luck and the right
group of players at the right time.”
Borussia Dortmund, the German league and cup
champions in 2012, are the last side to win the
Bundesliga apart from Bayern and Mueller says
they are still the biggest danger to the Bavarians,
especially under new coach Thomas Tuchel.
“I have always seen Dortmund as our main rivals,”
said Mueller.
“They were very weak in the first part of last
season and were a long way off the fight for the
league title, but I have always got Dortmund on
my list.
“With Levekursen, Dortmund, Wolfsburg and
maybe Schalke, there are teams who can chase
us until the last game of the season.”
Schweinsteiger’s departure to Manchester United
means Mueller is now Guardiola’s third-choice to
captain the side behind skipper Philipp Lahm and
goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
“Nothing has changed. For me, it’s not important
who has the captain’s armband, but that many
players on the pitch are giving the right signals,”
insisted Mueller.