Götze says he now wants to stay in Munich
May 23, 2016
Mario Götze was quoted on the website of the mass-circulation newspaper "Bild" on Monday as saying that he had no intention of leaving Bayern in the immediate future.
"I am looking forward to the new season in Munich and will do everything in my power to ensure that I am 100 percent fit for the first training session under Carlo Ancelotti," said the 23-year-old midfielder, who was ruled out of Saturday's Germany Cup final due to a rib injury.
Increase in playing time unlikely
This flies in the face of reports that Ancelotti had told Götze in a telephone conversation earlier this month that he shouldn't expect to see much playing time under him, when he takes over as head coach from the outgoing Pep Guardiola in July.
Since the reports of that conversation were published, it had been widely assumed that Götze, whose contract runs until 2017, would soon be out the door, with his former club, Borussia Dortmund, Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool and Juventus appearing to be the most likely destinations.
Götze has not extended that contract, as several of his teammates have, meaning it may just be a matter of time before the transfer rumors flare up again. Götze had been clearly unhappy with an almost complete lack of playing time under Guardiola this season.
For now, Götze told "Bild," he just wants to concentrate on his preparations for Euro 2016 in France, because "there is a title to be won, that we all don't have yet."
Change of agent
Coincidentally, Götze, who scored the extra-time goal that won Germany the 2014 World Cup, also announced on Monday that he had parted ways with his agent, Volker Struth, in what he described as a "mutual" decision.
He said it would now allow members of his family to look after his affairs in conjunction with Munich-based law professor Dr Peter Duvinage, who also represents Holger Badstuber.
It wasn't immediately clear whether there was a connection between the change in agent and Götze's apparent newfound enthusiasm for staying in the Bavarian capital for at least another campaign.