- Title: SOCCER-GERMANY/SCHWEINSTEIGER REAX Bayern fans sad to lose Schweinsteiger
- Date: 11th July 2015
- Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (JULY 11, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF ALLIANZ ARENA ARENA STADIUM IN MUNICH PEOPLE QUEUING OUTSIDE STADIUM BAYERN "BERNI" MASCOT OUTSIDE STADIUM KIDS POSING WITH MASCOT FATHER TAKING PICTURE OF KIDS POSING / MASCOT (SOUNDBITE) (German) BAYERN MUNICH FAN FRANK MOSER, SAYING: "He is respected, he is a legend so If he wants to change, then we must understand."
- Embargoed: 26th July 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA57TZAOW7R5GTURAFSETQY7QBS
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A few hours before Bayern Munich present their new team at the Allianz Arena stadium on Saturday (July 11), fans of the Bundesliga champions were sad as they received the news that Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger had agreed to join English Premier League side Manchester United.
A World Cup-winner with Germany in Brazil last year, Schweinsteiger came through the youth ranks at Bayern and has spent 13 seasons with the Bavarians, winning the Bundesliga title eight times.
His fans were sad but understood the move of the 30-year-old.
"He is respected, he is a legend so If he wants to change, then we must understand," Frank Moser told Reuters at the stadium.
"It won't be better for him, I respect his decision if he thinks that going to England at the end of his career will be better. I think it is ok. That is what happens in professional soccer," Mario Franke said.
"He probably wants to learn some new things but we are of course sad. But I understand he want to see new places and set new challenges," his wife Marion Franke added.
"He might see himself on the losing side against Bayern," Moser joked.
During a glittering career, Schweinsteiger, who made 536 appearances for the club since his debut in 2002, also won seven German Cups and the Champions League in 2013.
Manfred Wilheim hoped he would reconsider.
"'Shweini' hurts the Bayern heart because he is pure Bayern material. If he goes to Manchester, who should we get instead? A real Bavarian? I would be available but I can't replace him. What a shame! I hope he reconsiders and that he is not fit enough for Manchester. We will will give him a Weisswurst to fill him up so that he is full and he can't play. Then back in the box and back to us," he joked.
Schweinsteiger will be the first German to play for United and their second signing of the close-season following the arrival of Netherlands winger Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven for a fee of around 30 million euros. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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