Karl-Heinz Rummenigge claps back at Timo Werner over statement about Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge made a pointed statement about RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner in a new interview with Bild. Werner had told the magazine at the beginning of May that he would find a transfer outside the Bundesliga more appealing than a move to Bayern Munich.

Werner said, “Bayern is a great club. We don’t need to debate that. And Hansi Flick has proven this season that he’s a really good head coach. But if a transfer should ever come up, I’d be drawn rather to go abroad than transfer to Bayern.”

Rummenigge indicated that he was not amused: “I’m actually not surprised by anything anymore, but a player making such a statement publicly in response to rumors — that’s something I haven’t encountered before.”

There is a hint of hypocrisy, however, since it was not Werner who drew first blood, so to speak, but rather sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, who stated in January that Bayern decided against signing the RB Leipzig goalscorer because he was not a fit.

At any rate, if there was any lingering doubt that Bayern might sign Werner this summer after all, Rummenigge’s remark would indicate otherwise. Werner has been linked primarily with Liverpool FC, but it is also possible in the current crisis that he might remain in Leipzig.