Pep Guardiola has revealed that he will allow Bastian Schweinsteiger to decide his own future, as the midfielder continues to be linked with a move to Manchester United.
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The 30-year-old is understood to be one of Louis van Gaal’s key transfer targets, with the Metro suggesting that the Dutch coach has guaranteed the Germany skipper a starting berth at Old Trafford should he sign.
Having entered the final year of his contract, the deep-lying playmaker could be available for as little as £7.5 million, which would represent a bargain fee for a truly world-class operator.
While Schweinsteiger played his part in Bayern’s Bundesliga title triumph last term—contributing five goals and four assists in 20 outings in the German top flight—his coach Guardiola has admitted that he will allow the player to decide his own fate.
“Of course I am planning to work with Basti next season,” the former Barcelona coach began, as reported by the Metro, “but he must decide what he does alone. I’ve told him: ‘The future depends on you’.
“Basti has managed a great career – but he has to decide.”
While the player may well be open to the prospect of a move to England, and the chance of testing himself in a new division, Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer has advised him to think twice about leaving the Bundesliga, via ESPN.
The national legend—who, like Schweinsteiger, was a World Cup winner with Germany—recommended the midfielder to stay in his homeland for another two or three years.
An intriguing option that may yet be explored this summer is a swap deal for Angel Di Maria, with Bild [via the Metro] reporting that United would be willing to offload the Argentine flop if it meant they could secure Schweinsteiger.