Bayern Munich supervisory board member and former president of Bavaria Edmund Stoiber has admitted that fans would never forgive the club if home-grown star Thomas Müller were to be sold.That suggests that despite continuing on and off speculation about interest from Manchester United, the Bavarianlocal will be staying at Bayern for a long time yet.
Bastian Schweinsteiger was allowed to leave to the disappointment of supporters in 2015, but despite Manchester United reportedly offering big money for Müller on more than one occasion in the last few years, Stoiber believes the situation is a vastly different one.
"It should not happen that Thomas Müller plays for Manchester United," the 75-year-old former politician told Bild in Germany.
"When Bastian Schweinsteiger went to Manchester United, the fans were not happy, but he was already 32-years-old and wanted something new. But the members and fans would not forgive us for selling Thomas Müller," he added.
For Stoiber, 27-year-old Müller speaks to "the heart of the fans".
"He is the opposite of Cristiano Ronaldo, for example, a player like him is more than just an excellent footballer, a player like him is part of our DNA."
Müller was famously handed a first-team chance by ex-Bayern manager Louis van Gaal, at a time when the young forward was actually considering his future at the club. He became a regular during the 2009/10 campaign as Bayern reached the Champions League final and has gone from strength to strength since both for club and country.
After three consecutive seasons scoring 20 or more goals in all competitions, Müller enjoyed the best individual campaign of his career to date in 2015/16 with 32 strikes, including 20 in the Bundesliga as he and Bayern won a fourth straight title.
His form in front of goal this season has been somewhat off, though, as he is yet to score in the league and has just three strikes to his name in 18 appearances in all competitions.
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