Germany defender Philipp Lahm will stay with Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich for at least one more season, Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer said on Thursday.
Contract negotiations between Lahm, 24, and Bayern broke down on Tuesday, raising the possibility the defender could move to another club.
Although contracted until 2009, Lahm has refused to sign an extension, but German tabloid Bild report new Bayern coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who takes over in July, does not want to see Lahm leave Munich in the summer.
“I think he will play for us for another year and then leave to join a club like Barcelona or Manchester United,” Beckenbauer told Bild on Thursday.
Both Spanish giants Barcelona and Premier League side United have expressed an interest in signing Lahm, who has won 39 caps for Germany.
Lahm first attracted attention at the 2006 World Cup after scoring the tournament's first goal and has been at Bayern since he was 13 after graduating through their academy system.
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!