In another case of the rich getting richer, Holland international winger Arjen Robben has signed a new two-year contract extension with FC Bayern Munich, as per the club’s official website, fcbayern.de.
Robben, who joined FC Bayern from Real Madrid for a bargain fee of around €25 million in August 2009, has been a vital part of the Bavarian giants’ first-team over the past five seasons, having netted 89 goals in 153 appearances across all competitions.
Many thought the 2010 FIFA World Cup Runner-up would lose his place in the starting XI following the appointment of manager Pep Guardiola but the 30-year-old has remained an important figure in the Bayern side.
“I’m delighted we’ve now signed the new contract and I’ll continue pursuing trophies with FC Bayern,” Robben said.
“I’m now in my fifth season in Munich and there will be three more after this. There can be no better indication of how happy my family and I feel to be here and how much I enjoy playing for this club and with this team. I’m looking forward to the years ahead – and to plenty more trophies with FC Bayern.”
Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge added: “We’re extremely pleased Arjen has extended his contract with us until 2017.
“Arjen is a magnificent player. He’s proved his worth to FC Bayern and not just in the Champions League Final at Wembley. Arjen is a fundamentally important member of the team and will now remain so for the years to come.”
Robben, who will surely want to forget the outcome of the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa after failing to convert two glaring opportunities in the final against Spain, will get another crack at the competition when this summer’s event kicks off on Thursday, 12 June 2014 in Brazil.
However, Holland — priced at 33/1 to win this summer’s World Cup — will need a bit of luck to get past the favourites, which include the likes of Brazil (3/1), Argentina (5/1), Germany (11/2) and Spain (7/1), in South America.
But then again, the ‘luck of champions’ is always required, as Argentina star Lionel Messi made clear in a recent interview with TyC Sports.
“You need the luck of the champions in order to win the World Cup, just like Spain had in South Africa,” Messi said.
“Spain were the best team at the 2010 World Cup, but they were fortunate that Robben missed two huge chances in the final.”
The Barcelona No. 10 also surprisingly revealed that Spain midfield duo Andres Iniesta and Xavi want him to win the World Cup for Argentina.
“Xavi and Iniesta are my friends and they told me that they want me to win the World Cup” Messi added.
“Everybody in Argentina will go absolutely crazy if we win the World Cup.”
Can Messi lead Argentina to World Cup glory this summer?
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