Report: Javi Martinez to stay at Bayern Munich until 2020

In new reports by Bild and TZ, it appears that Javi Martinez will continue to be a Bayern Munich player for the foreseeable future. The player, whose contract runs until 2021, will not be part of a rumored squad shakeup in the summer.

According to the reports, Martinez sought out a meeting with club Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge to clarify his situation. In the resulting conversation, it appears that the Basque was assured that he would continue to be a part of the team for at least one more season.

Earlier in the year, Athletic Bilbao’s sporting director confirmed their interest in bringing former players back to the club, with Javi being one of the examples named. However, despite his recent lack of playing time, Martinez himself has expressed no desire to leave Bayern, saying:

I cannot see myself going to another European club ... Bayern is my last club on this level.

According to TZ, Martinez enjoys living in Munich and is deeply invested in the traditions surrounding the state capital. The player and his partner feel settled and the family have no real desire to leave the club.

What does this mean for the squad? Bild speculates that this could mean the end of Renato Sanches’ Bayern career, given the club’s plethora of options in midfield. In fact, with Thiago Alcantara, Corentin Tolisso, Leon Goretzka, Javi Martinez, and even Joshua Kimmich being considered for two positions on the field, the young Portuguese midfielder could find minutes very difficult to come by.

In addition, perhaps this could scupper a potential deal between Bayern Munich and Adrien Rabiot. With Barcelona no longer interested after their acquisition of Frenkie de Jong, Bayern was considered a strong candidate to land the Frenchman.

In any case, no matter how things go in the summer, keeping Javi around can only be a good thing for the Bavarians, given that he seems content with sitting on the bench.