Sunday, January 5, 2014

MANDZUKIC NOT FOR SALE

Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has insisted that Mario Mandzukic is going nowhere, despite the Bundesliga leaders confirming the signing of Robert Lewandowski on Saturday. Lewandowski, 25, has signed a five-year deal with the European champions and will join them in July after his contract with Borussia Dortmund has expired.The Poland international's imminent arrival has led to suggestions that fellow striker Mandzukic, 27, will depart Bayern in the summer to seek first-team football elsewhere.Rummenigge, however, has stressed that the club want to keep hold of the Croatia international and are even considering offering him a new contract."We're very pleased with Mario. He made a significant contribution to us winning so many trophies last year," Rummenigge said. "I just like to recall his goal at Wembley in London [in the 2013 Champions League final]... he's a magnificent player who has come on superbly at Bayern."He has a contract with us until June 30, 2016, and I told his agent in Marrakech [at last month's Club World Cup] that we're certainly prepared to consider extending his contract well before it expires. We have absolutely no intention of letting Mario go."Lewandowski, who has 11 Bundesliga goals to his name this season, will officially become a Bayern player on July 1, and Rummenigge added: "It's gone wonderfully well. He signed at the Sabener Strasse [Bayern's club headquarters]. We're delighted he's chosen to join Bayern Munich. He'll strengthen FC Bayern."Meanwhile, Rummenigge moved to quash rumours linking Chelsea defender David Luiz with a January move to Bayern.There was also talk of Luiz moving to the Bavarian club last summer, but the Bayern chief would prefer to wait on the return of the injured Holger Badstuber rather than look to bring in a new centre-back."There's a lot of speculation at the moment and it's an extreme situation in England," he said. "We're being linked with David Luiz and other Spanish players at the present time. Let me state this very clearly: it's all of no interest whatsoever to us."We're not yet concerned about the situation regarding the playing staff next summer. There's nothing lined up, so we have nothing to hide. It's simply not on the table."What I'd personally like is for Holger Badstuber to make a comeback. He would be a newcomer who would be an excellent fit at Bayern. He's a wonderful lad and an important player for us."

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