Bayern Bulletin: Rummenigge Upset with Mandžukić over Early Departure

Rummenigge Upset with Mandžukić's Premature Departure for National Team

In Bayern's double celebration during the weekend, there was one notable absentee from the party, the same one absent from the team sheet for the DFB-Pokal final against Borussia Dortmund.

Mario Mandžukić, who scored 26 goals in all competition for Bayern Munich this season, did not travel to Berlin at all, leaving on Thursday for Croatia to join up with his compatriots before the World Cup. That decision was apparently his own, and one that rubbed CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge the wrong way.

"It was his decision that he traveled prematurely to the national team. I regret that a little bit, but you can't change it," Rummenigge told Bild. "It is also fits in the landscape of things the past few weeks."

Sport Bild reported Friday that Pep Guardiola supposedly bid Mandžukić a firm fairwell, "wishing him well at his new club." Rummenigge was adamant all season that Mandzukic was not leaving the club, but that stance has seemed to change.

"I also still can't predict how it will end," said Rummenigge. "He still has two years under contract; if he wants to go, then he or his agent needs to notify us. It is important that a player integrates himself with Bayern and behaves disciplined. I don't want to overstress it; we will do the rest in the next few weeks in peace."

Mandžukić wished Bayern well on his Facebook page before the DFB-Pokal final:

Lahm, Neuer with Injury Concerns Before World Cup

With Bastian Schweinstieger's World Cup status already in jeopardy, the German national team might have to deal two other critical injury blows. The injury cloud may now keep Philipp Lahm's and Manuel Neuer's availability in the shade.

Lahm withdrew in the first half of the DFB-Pokal final with a lower-leg injury, which the club website revealed to be a capsule tear in his left ankle. Lahm "believes it's not that bad," according to kicker, but the club reported that the Bayern and Germany captain will have to sit out of training for five to seven days.

Neuer's injury may be a bit more serious, suffering a tear in his right shoulder.

#Neuer suffered a small tear in the AC joint (shoulder). Wearing a sling for relief. He too will go to the training camp and then Brazil!

— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) May 19, 2014

Bild: Liverpool preparing €12 million bid for Emre Can

Liverpool, runners-up of the Barclays Premier League, is preparing to swipe Bayern academy product Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen for €12 million, according to Bild.

"No official inquiry is in front of us," said Leverkusen's sporting director, Rudi Völler.

Bayern sold Can to Leverkusen last summer for €5 million, an agreement that has a buy-back clause for €5.5 million after 2015. The Bild report stipulates that a bid from Liverpool would supersede the agreement between the two German clubs, but Leverkusen will try to hang onto their 20-year-old if they can.

"We will do everything to hold onto Can because we are convinced that another year with us will be good for his athletic development," said squad manager Michael Reschke.

Can started 32 matches for Leverkusen, playing both as a fullback and in central midfield.