Germany international rejected ‘mad’ offers to move to the Allianz Arena.
Bayern Munich new boy Mario Goetze turned down ‘incredible offers’ from unnamed clubs in order to join the Bavarians, according to the club’s excutive director Matthias Sammer.
Goetze, 20, will join Bayern from Borussia Dortmund in the summer after the Bundesliga champions agreed to meet his £31.6m release clause on Tuesday.
The timing of the announcement raised eyebrows across Europe, coming as it did the day before the Dortmund were due to face Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.
Arsenal were among the clubs linked with Goetze before he opted to link-up with Bayern boss-to-be Pep Guardiola, and Sammer, a former Dortmund captain and manager who is now working at the Allianz Arena, says the youngster rejected ‘mad’ offers from elsewhere.
“You have to be aware that Mario Gotze has had incredible offers from other clubs. Those offers were really mad!,” the former Germany international is quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
Sammer said that Bayern had not spoken with their Bundesliga rivals about the move but admitted the timing of the deal was not ideal.
“Of course, the publication of this transfer has not been so ideal. We intended to go public with it just after the UEFA Champions League semi-final fixtures,” he added.
“We haven’t been in touch with Borussia Dortmund over it. Why should we? Mario Gotze has got a contract release clause and he is making use of it.”
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