BERLIN: Bastian Schweinsteiger has been told there could be a place for him back at Bayern Munich in the wake of his fall from grace at Manchester United.
Schweinsteiger turned 32 on Monday, the same day his locker in United’s first-team dressing room was cleared out and he was ordered to train with the reserves by new United boss Jose Mourinho.
He is one of nine players told they are free to go on loan by Mourinho and are not in the United boss’ plans.
Schweinsteiger announced his international retirement last week after 12 years, 24 goals and 120 appearances in the famous white shirt.
At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, he enhanced his reputation as his battling display in Germany’s midfield helped beat Argentina in the final.
After winning eight Bundesliga titles with Bayern, as well as the German Cup seven times and the 2013 Champions League, he moved to Old Trafford in 2015.
But his star has fallen after an injury-ravaged season in Manchester which yielded only 31 appearances, and Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says the door is open for him to return.
“Should he speak at some point about a desire to return, then we will discuss it with him,” Rummenigge told magazine Sport Bild.
The imminent return of France’s Paul Pogba to Old Trafford, and his own demotion, means Schweinsteiger’s days in Manchester look numbered with two years left on his United contract.
