Bayern have begun laying the foundations for the senior squad of the future. Defender Daniel van Buyten has agreed a two-year extension to his current contract, set to expire this summer, and will now remain in Munich until 30 June 2012. At the other end of the spectrum, rookie pros Thomas Müller and Holger Badstuber have extended their stays at FCB beyond summer 2011 by two and three years respectively.
“We’re delighted we’ve reached agreement on contract extensions with these three important players,” commented FCB chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, announcing talks with the remaining players whose contracts expire this summer “very shortly, so we set our direction for the future in good time.” The players concerned are Jörg Butt, Mark van Bommel, Hamit Altintop, Michael Rensing and Andreas Görlitz.
Daniel delighted
Two days prior to the Bundesliga clash with champions VfL Wolfsburg, the new deal for Van Buyten represents the first extension to a senior playing contract among the group of players whose agreements expire at the end of the current season. “We have a great group, and a terrific and intelligent coach. It’s all working out for me here and I’m very happy,” said the Belgian during the mid-season training camp in Dubai. Daniel, who turns 32 on Sunday, has never made any secret of his desire to remain with Munich.
The new contracts for 20-year-old shooting stars Müller and Badstuber represent an investment in the long-term future. Versatile forward Müller joined Bayern from TSV Pähl as an 11-year-old in 2000. He and Badstuber, who came to Munich two years later from VfB Stuttgart, played for all the club’s youth teams and the third division reserves, where they swiftly advanced to regular status under Hermann Gerland.
Satisfactory development
“Both have come on extremely well, and both are Bayern youth products. We’re always interested in retaining the likes of Lahm and Schweinsteiger, and indeed Müller and Badstuber,” commented Rummenigge. Thomas and Holger were promoted to the first-team squad from the reserves at the start of this season.
Bayern continue to pursue a two-pronged squad development strategy, on the one hand developing the cream of the club’s youth talent into first-team players, and on the other hand bringing in experienced individuals from other clubs. Two further talented youngsters from the club’s reserve (Under-23) team, Diego Contento and Mehmet Ekici, have recently signed professional forms. Other starlets from the junior team youth section, including 17-year-old full Austria international David Alaba, are likely to follow.
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