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'
Thomas Mueller
Berlin: 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.
Thomas Mueller. Pic/AFP
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"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.
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