German champions Bayern Munich on Monday confirmed they want to sign Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Dutch star Van Nistelrooy (30) looks certain to leave Old Trafford this summer after falling out with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of last season.
Ferguson was believed to be unhappy with the former PSV Eindhoven player’s perceived lack of effort in an FA Cup defeat at Liverpool in February and dropped him soon afterwards.
Van Nistelrooy then claimed he was told to stay away from Roy Keane’s testimonial in May, opening the way for interested clubs to start the race to sign United’s record European goal scorer.
Bayern chairperson Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told German newspaper Bild he is confident the player wants to move to the Allianz Arena.
He said: ”The player wants to come to us, we know that. Now we will approach the thing with all calm.
”We have to speak with the player and naturally with Manchester United but there are no grounds for haste.”
The Bundesliga side may have competition from Real Madrid, though, after the Spanish club’s new president Ramon Calderon told his team’s website that boss Fabio Capello is also interested in making a bid for Van Nistelrooy. — AFP
