Arsene Wenger has “ruled himself out” of the Bayern Munich job, according to beIN

The rumors linking Arsene Wenger to become the next manager of Bayern Munich have already taken several twists and turns within the span of just a few days. After emerging as one of the front-runners to replace Niko Kovac, reports in Germany had suggested that Wenger had made a phone call to Bayern’s front office to say that he was ready and willing to accept an offer, but that Bayern politely said “no thank you.”

In the latest twist, Wenger has now said that he’s set to speak with Bayern’s front office next week, because he is currently in Doha until this Sunday. He also made a point of saying that he’s known Rummenigge, Uli Hoeness and Franz Beckenbauer for more than 40 years and admires how competently Bayern has always been run as a club and organization. Originally, Wegner said that he had missed Rummeigge’s phone call, but called him back while he [Rummenigge] was en route to Bayern’s Champions League match against Olympiacos, a conversation in which Rummenigge asked Wenger if he was interested in the coaching job.

Video courtesy of beIN SPORTS:

Full transcript of the beIN SPORTS interview transcribed via BBC Sport:

We decided together we will talk next week because I’m in Doha until Sunday. This is the true story. On Wednesday afternoon, Rummenigge called me. I could not answer and by politeness I called him back. He was in his car going to the game against Olympiakos. We talked for four to five minutes maximum and he told me they had assigned [Hans-Dieter] Flick to be the coach — he will manage the next two games. He [Rummenigge] asked me if I would be interested because they are looking for a coach. I told him I didn’t have any thoughts about it — it needs some time to think about it.

This most recent interview from Wenger contradicts almost everything that has been reported this week other than the fact that he was a realistic candidate who would be willing to fill either a short or long term role. It remains to be seen how the narrative came about that no contact had been made between Wenger and Bayern, because according to Wenger, that’s completely false.

UPDATE: Wenger claims Rummenigge called first, now “rules himself out”

Given Bayern Munich’s statement to Bild, that Wenger is “not an option for FC Bayern Munich,” it would appear that Wenger decided to speak to give his version of the events.