Bayern Munich's Jupp Heynckes admits he's disappointed in Schalke after suggesting Leon Goretzka may have to sit out the rest of the season before joining Bayern.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed Bayern Munich's newest signing Leon Goretzka would probably have moved to Barcelona had he not agreed a deal with the Bundesliga champions.
Goretzka, 22, will join Bayern on a five-year deal from Schalke in the summer.
CEO Rummenigge wrote in the club magazine before this weekend's Bundesliga home game against Hoffenheim: "If we had not signed Leon Goretzka, there's a high probability he would have moved to Barcelona.
"Fundamentally, that cannot be in the interests of German football."
Leon Goretzka will join Bayern Munich in the summer.
Rummenigge added: "Only 22, Leon Goretzka is an enormously talented German international with great potential in his position. We would have been really crazy not to try and sign him."
Out of contract at the end of June, Goretzka will join on a free transfer, with Bayern winning the race for the highly-coveted midfielder following reported interest from Europe's top clubs, including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Liverpool.
Bayern have already ruled out bringing the Goretzka deal forward after Schalke hinted at the weekend that they would be willing to allow the Germany international to leave immediately.
Goretzka had been linked with Bayern since helping reigning World Cup champions Germany win the Confederations Cup in Russia last summer. Sport Bild had claimed as early as May that he had already agreed to join the Bundesliga champions -- a report immediately denied by the midfielder on his Facebook page.
Mark Lovell covers Bayern Munich for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter: @LovellLowdown.
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Source: espn.co.uk