Thomas Müller is one of the most underrated footballers, past and present. I consider that a fact. FIFA recognises that the Bayern Munich skillsmith and pin-up boy has earned 22 goals in 56 international caps, and boasts an astonishing reputation in the Bundesliga. He is a much cherished attacker with untraceable feet, and it transpires that newly Dutch-managed Manchester United have acknowledged his talent. The German wonder-man has allegedly snubbed the hefty offer from the Premier League side, suggesting no interest to head further afield.
Fortunately for avid Bundesliga viewers, Mr. Müller relishes playing for Bayern and representing such a prestigious club. The “20-times champions”, Manchester United, had enjoyed an enviable career and footballing campaign under Sir Alex Ferguson, but sadly, his time had come to resign (The Guardian, August 2014). Since his absence, the side has been swamped with aggression regarding their slip in prowess and victories, and poor, disheveled David Moyes was carelessly and all too easily blamed for their misdemeanours last season. Despite a sketchy few months for the northern club, Thomas Müller bears no interest in Manchester United’s prior record of winning or losing; in fact, he is mighty comfortable where he is.
Müller’s amazing wealth of talent conveyed for both club and country has been mostly unrivalled by any other player of his stature; the 24-year-old won both the Golden Boot and Best Young Player Award at the 2010 World Cup held in South Africa, and has since been undeniably paramount for Joachim Löw’s squad. His clever contributions at this year’s World Cup also secured him the Man of the Match accolade against both Portugal and dearest Jürgen Klinsmann’s USA. Further still, Bayern runs a tight but unique ship in Bavaria; many of its most valuable players link together to infuse pure virtuosity on their international team also. This unruly bunch of staggering players includes Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm. Additionally, Müller’s twenty-six goals in the Bayern jersey last season under flawless Pep Guardiola more than assisted them to victory (The Independent, August 2014).
Sparkling career in Germany aside, it is undisputed that any club can bid for the transfer of any player, regardless of potentially insulting pecuniary offers or not, but this is not the first instance that recently appointed Manchester United boss, Louis van Gaal, has clicked his fingers and hoped that a string of European heavyweights would come running. Müller’s rejection could be perceived as laughing in van Gaal’s face, especially as the two have history- van Gaal awarded Müller his Bayern debut aged 19- but why should the alleged ‘tactical genius’ expect that a player will up and sign on the dotted line just because it is Manchester United asking? Simply because David Beckham’s former stomping ground may have done excellently well in the past does not therefore mean that the club will appear outstandingly appealing, especially to those who already play for Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund.
Thomas Müller is the latest in an embarrassingly long line of failed attempts for van Gaal; for the Oranje and Bayern Munich, Arjen Robben is something of a rockstar, but he also turned down the invitation, which was then followed by Mats Hummels of Borussia Dortmund (though, granted, him moving here to England did look imminent at one point) and apparently even Luiz Gustavo of VfL Wolfsburg knocked van Gaal back. No matter how “astronomical” the bids (Irish Times, August 2014), it just has not been enough to entice; is there something in the water or half-time oranges in the Bundesliga? Further still, after word escaped that Marco Reus’s contract is up next summer, rumours emerged that Manchester United had targeted the Dortmund giant as well. This is perhaps not entirely founded, but would not surprise me in the slightest.
I can’t be certain that Manchester United’s Louis van Gaal won’t pursue another Bundesliga icon, but his attempts thus far have gained him nil. I for one am glad that Müller et al have gladly remained at their clubs; we shall see them enjoying their sport as of today.
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