Bayern back Butt amid Neuer interest

Hans-Joerg Butt will continue as Bayern Munich’s first-choice goalkeeper next season, club president Uli Hoeness announced on Friday, despite their continuing interest in Manuel Neuer.

Butt, 35, recently extended his contract with the Bavarian giants until June 2011 but the club were strongly linked with Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer during the last summer transfer window.

“Our intention for next season is very clear, it’s to keep Joerg Butt as number one,” Hoeness said at a public meeting reported on by tabloid Bild.

Concerning the foiled bid for Neuer, who — unlike Butt — will be a part of Germany’s squad at this summer’s World Cup in South Africa, Hoeness explained that he had been refused “any negotiations in that regard” by Schalke, adding: “We accepted this position”.

Hoeness did hint, however, that a fresh move for Neuer would be on the cards in the near future.

“We won’t let him slip through our fingers,” Hoeness added. “What’s more, he has a girlfriend in Munich, which is rather convenient.”