It’s one of those transfer sagas that’s likely to drag on all summer; the will he, won’t he over reported top Liverpool target Mario Gotze took another turn yesterday when Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge made it very clear where the club stands on the issue of playing time for the talented 23-year old.
“I had talks with him [Mario] and Ancelotti. Mario knows the thoughts of Bayern,” said Rummenigge, often the mouthpiece for the Bavarian club, speaking frankly to Kicker magazine when asked about Gotze’s future at the club. “Everything was clearly and seriously explained to Mario. He knows what the club thinks and what the new coach thinks,” he added. “Mario has to evaluate for himself whether he wants to play constantly.”
This, of course, comes on the back of the player himself saying that he’s looking forward to his first training session with incoming Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti and his representatives pooh-poohing a rumoured “imminent” reunion with former boss Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. With clubs like Juventus and Bundesliga runners-up Borussia Dortmund also thought to be in the running for his signature, he could very well still be moving on — something that would clearly suit Rummenigge. Despite a serious lack of playing time over the last term, Gotze has made his way into the provisional Germany squad for Euro 2016 in France this summer, and though Die Mannschaft boss Joachim Löw had previously suggested that the 23-year old should move on in search of a team that will better utilize his talents, he’s now softened that position somewhat.
“I’ve been in constant contact with Mario and he’s kept me informed all the time,” said the stoic German manager on Wednesday. “He’s had a long talk with Ancelotti and I think a few falsities were said about that, but a coach can never give a guarantee and he told Mario that everybody starts from scratch from the start of the season under him,” added Low. “Mario has had offers, but I always felt he is in Munich with his heart and he wants to prove himself there. He told me he wants to stay in Munich and take his chance with the new coach and I think that’s a fine decision because it’s what his feeling tells him to do, so it’s the right decision for him.”
