Leaving Munich

Toni said he's "more than convinced" that he will join AS Roma during the January transfer window. The Italian striker has had a rocky season with Bayern, spending most of his time on the sidelines.

Toni, 32, said he hoped to use the move to regain his place with the Italy team for the 2010 World Cup. Toni was one of the stars in Italy's winning 2006 World Cup team. Toni also insists Roma is the only team he wants to join, despite interest from other clubs in Italy and England.

The move has not been officially announced, although earlier in the month, Bayern president Uli Hoeness said Toni could leave on a free transfer. In an interview to be published on Thursday, Hoeness wished Toni well at his new club.

"I hope he plays a super second half of the season at AS Rom and that he shoots a lot of goals," Hoeness told the Munich Merkur.

Unhappy ending

Toni's signing with Bayern in 2007 was supposed to be the start of a new era of dominance for the German club. Coming off his World Cup win, Toni seemed unstoppable.

He soon became the Bundesliga's top scorer as well as the German league's best paid player. His second Bundesliga season, while not as stellar, still saw him score 14 goals.

Yet Toni started his third season out with an injury. In his absence, Bayern's new coach, Louis van Gaal, turned to Miroslav Klose to take on the club's central striking role with Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben lending support. Toni and van Gaal reportedly had a falling out with Toni losing his place on the first team.

th/AP/dpa

Editor: Susan Houlton