Uli Hoeness, Bayern Munich’s honorary president, has recently spoken candidly about the club’s strained relationship with Thomas Müller and the “mistakes” that were made regarding the player’s contract.
Müller, a legend for both Bayern and Germany, is approaching the end of his long association with the Bavarian club, with his contract set to expire at the end of the current season.
A Remarkable Career Coming to a Close
After 25 years with Bayern Munich, the 35-year-old forward is nearing the final chapter of his career with the club.
While Bayern Munich has had a stellar season under the management of Vincent Kompany, leading the Bundesliga with a six-point advantage, Müller has not played a leading role in their success.
He has started just nine league matches, with Kompany prioritizing younger talent over the veteran.
Müller’s lucrative contract, reportedly worth £14.2 million (€17 million) per year, makes him one of the highest earners at the club.
Despite his reduced playing time, the German star continues to make his mark, notably coming off the bench to score in Bayern’s recent Champions League quarterfinal loss to Inter Milan.
His final games for the club are expected to take place at this summer’s Club World Cup, where he has also been offered a testimonial.
The Tension Behind the Scenes
Müller’s departure from Bayern has not been without friction.
Back in February, Hoeness indicated that there was still an opportunity for Müller to renew his contract, even as he subtly suggested that it might be time for the player to consider retirement.
Hoeness remarked that while he would happily extend Müller’s contract as a player and person, he believed that ending his career as a benchwarmer would not do justice to Müller’s illustrious journey.
However, in hindsight, Hoeness admits that his comments may have led Müller to believe there was still hope for a contract extension, when in fact, the decision had already been made to part ways with the player.
“I’m incredibly annoyed that I said that,” Hoeness confessed.
“I wanted to build a bridge for Thomas, but I already knew that his contract would not be extended.”
The Club’s Responsibility
Hoeness acknowledged that Bayern Munich had made errors by leading Müller to believe his contract could be renewed for so long.
He stressed that once the decision had been made not to offer Müller a new deal, it created unnecessary tension.
“Thomas wasn’t prepared for it and was naturally angry,” he explained.
Hoeness also took responsibility for the poor communication that followed.
“This decision was made jointly by the entire club.
“There was not a single person, not a single person, on the committees—including the supervisory board—who had a different opinion.
“It was poorly communicated. You have to take responsibility for that, otherwise you won’t.”
A Fitting Farewell
As Bayern Munich now moves forward with a clear stance on Müller’s future, the veteran forward will likely aim to end his tenure at the club on a high note.
With a potential 13th league title and a third European Cup in sight, Müller’s final season could still hold significant achievements, cementing his legacy as one of Bayern’s all-time greats.