Hoeness reveals Bayern´s pricey battle for Bastian

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness said Sunday it took hard cash to keep Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger with reports here the midfielder’s new contract is worth 10 million euros per year.

After Saturday’s 3-0 win over St Pauli at Munich’s Allianz Arena, Schweinsteiger took the microphone to tell Bayern’s fans he had signed a four-year contract extension which will keep him at Munich until at least 2016.

Schweini’ told the adoring fans at Munich’s Allianz Arena his ‘heart is red’ and he would rather win the Champions League with Bayern than Real Madrid, who were reported to be interested in signing him.

But Hoeness revealed the battle to keep Schweinsteiger in Munich involved only hard cash and Bild report the new contract gives the midfielder an annual salary of 10 million euros.

“We weren’t fighting over peanuts, but about hard cash and euros, we had to push the boat out,” Hoeness told German TV channel Sky.

“We all have to kiss goodbye to the idea that at this level, players decide to stay with a club because they love the club and are prepared to take a pay cut.

“They are professional players and, thank God, they are only worried about hard cash.”

The deal will make Schweinsteiger the best paid player at Bayern ahead of France star Franck Ribery.