Midway through the first half of the season, the Bavarian faithful feared that Thomas Muller might decide to leave Bayern Munich at the end of his contract. Muller is no longer the first-choice option in the attack for Thomas Tuchel. The German forward wants to play at the top level at least until 2025, so there was a good possibility of him looking for a new experience.
However, Bayern believed that Muller still had a big role to play in the senior squad. The record Bundesliga champions swiftly concluded negotiations with Muller at the end of 2023. The German forward also agreed to extend his stay at the club.
Muller’s new deal sees him playing in the Bavarian colours at least until the end of next season. Despite not playing Muller regularly, Tuchel always insisted that the experienced forward remains a crucial part of the squad. The German coach was eager to keep Muller beyond the current campaign.
It has not been a vintage campaign for Muller until now. He struggled with an injury at the start of the season, which also saw him miss the pre-season tour. While talking to SportBild (via iMiaSanMia), Muller admitted that strong recovery from injuries and motivation to get things right on the pitch after a poor last campaign were decisive factors behind his decision to extend his contract.
""It was a process. My contract was running until 2024. It would've also been a nice end to my career with the Euros at home. But last season at Bayern was, let's say, turbulent. There was also the World Cup where we had expected more. I had a few physical issues from April to July. When the body doesn't want anymore, it gets tough. Then you have to think about it. Once I was pain-free again, I got the joy of being on the pitch everyday back.""Thomas Muller
Muller also admitted that while playing for Germany against France earlier this year, he felt the desire to continue playing at the top level. The German forward is looking to build on good end to Hinrunde as he delivered good performances against Wolfsburg and VfB Stuttgart.
The German forward is also embracing the competition at Die Roten. He is ready to work hard in training to play regularly instead of getting upset over Tuchel’s decision to use him from the bench. Muller has already shown this season that he can make a significant impact when coming off the bench in the second half.
With Bayern planning to make big changes in the summer, it is crucial to keep Muller in the squad during the transition period. Muller remains one of the biggest voices in the dressing room. He plays a big role in helping new players settle in Munich.
Along with winning the two big trophies with Bayern this season, Muller is also hoping to deliver good performances with Germany in the Euros during the summer. Germany has struggled in the last few big competitions, so the upcoming European championship on home turf is crucial for DFB. Euros 2024 will most likely be Muller’s last competition with Germany, so he wants to bow out on a strong note.