Patrick Rees
Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness has sparked a fire with his recent statement about Manchester United’s midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and the Red Devils. Hoeness, who was re-elected for the Presidential role at the German club last Friday has accused Manchester United for their ill behaviour towards the World Cup winner.
Bastian, who joined Manchester United last summer under the management of Louis van Gaal, was a regular figure for the side last season until the injuries scared his season off. The 32-year-old managed 31 appearances in all competition last season and also scored that decisive headed goal against Leicester City, but as soon as Jose Mourinho was appointed, the former Bayern Munich midfielder was relegated from the first team and was made to train along with the reserve side.
The situation got worse when he got debarred from there as well and there were reports claiming that he was spotted training alone.
However, the situation was sweetened when he returned to the first team training at the end of October and was named in United’s squad for the first time against West Ham on Sunday, but remained on the bench for the 1-1 draw.
The German – few month ago – clearly mentioned that Manchester United will be his last club in Europe, and right at this very moment, reports from ESPN has claimed that Schweinsteiger is in talks to join Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire. Well, the transfer saga is a completely different situation, and here us what Hoeness said:
“If I were him, I would make the people in Manchester pay until his last day,” Hoeness said at a visit to a Bayern fan club. “That’s what this club [United] deserves for what they’ve done to him. They (United) should be punished.”
A move to MLS is reportedly on the cards and the 32-year-old was even spotted with Chicago Fire boss Veljko Paunovic in Manchester a few days back, but Hoeness believes that Schweinsteiger will probably retire from the sport:
“From what I have heard, Basti’s on his way out of football,” he said. “I know him well and I doubt he’s still got the fire left in him for one final major challenge.
“After such a brilliant career, a player like him shouldn’t see out his career in a place like America. For me, America simply isn’t an alternative for a player of his calibre.
“As far as I know, he’s committed to a massive farewell game at FC Bayern. I would do that but then I would retire.”
The 2014 World cup winner recently married to the Serbian tennis star Ana Ivanovic and Hoeness suggested him to spend more time with his family:
“He’s lucky to have such a beautiful wife and should set different priorities in life,” he said. “I wish he would concentrate more on starting a family.”
