Schweinsteiger stays with Bayern

Manchester United target Bastian Schweinsteiger has signing a four-year contract extension with Bayern Munich.

Schweinsteiger, 26, announced the new deal, which contracts him to the club until 2016,- on the pitch at the Allianz Arena following Bayern’s 3-0 home win over St Pauli on Saturday.

The announcement will go some way to ending speculation linking the midfielder with Manchester United.

”I’ve extended my contract and I’m staying with Bayern until 2016,” Schweinsteiger told fans.

“Long live Bayern. I’ve extended my contract for you.”

He had been linked with a move away from the Bundesliga champions after excelling at the 2010 World Cup with Germany.

Schweinsteiger was reportedly reluctant to sign the extension earlier in the season, leading Bayern manager Louis Van Gaal to suggest that the club would be better to sell their prized asset rather than risk losing him for nothing when the original contract expired in 2012.

Despite his earlier comments, the Dutchman was quick to declare his satisfaction with the news.

“I’m a coach with long-term goals,” Van Gaal said.

“Therefore the new contract for Bastian Schweinsteiger is very important. It’s a very good sign that we managed to keep this world-class player at our club.”

Key players Philipp Lahm, Franck Ribery and Thomas Muller have all agreed new long-term deals with the Bavarian giant this season.