- Sydney FC offer politely turned down
- Vancouver project felt right from start
- Talks with Schuster and Sorensen decisive
After parting ways with Bayern, legend Muller chose to begin a new chapter with MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps. Yet his move to Canada nearly took a different turn, as he came close to joining Sydney FC in Australia, where his former Bayern team-mate Alexander Baumjohann now serves as sporting director.
Baumjohann revealed to kicker how close the talks had been, saying: “We exchanged messages and made phone calls during the Club World Cup. And at some point, I presented our project to him via a Zoom call. From then on, we were in regular contact with him and his advisor.”
Manuel Neuer, who played alongside Baumjohann at Schalke, is also said to have helped open the door for discussions, acting as a mediator in the early stages. The Bavarian legend has opened up about the move, and revealed that the transfer in fact “appealing,” but he ultimately made a “conscious” decision
“I spoke to Alex two or three times on the phone, and to be honest, he made the project sound very appealing,” Muller said in an interview with Sport Bild. “I was keen for an adventure outside Europe, and the conversations gave me a good idea of what to expect in Sydney. So I was curious.”
In the end, Muller decided against making the move to Australia, politely declining Sydney FC’s approach. Baumjohann recalled: “He called me a week and a half ago and told me his decision. That also speaks for Thomas, that he contacted me personally and told me that he was really impressed.”
Explaining his choice, Muller revealed that the project in Canada simply resonated more strongly with him: “The whole package was just great. The Whitecaps’ sporting ambitions combined with the great city convinced me. The talks with sporting director Axel Schuster and coach Jesper Sorensen were completely open from the start,” he said. “I made a conscious decision to go to Vancouver and the Whitecaps. It just felt right for me from the start.”
Muller ended his 25-year association with Bayern after the club opted not to extend his contract, leaving as a free agent in the summer. The German icon made his debut for the Whitecaps on Sunday night, featuring in a 1-1 draw against Houston Dynamo, and made an immediate impact by blasting the ball in the back of the net with, but was called offside.
Muller will now look to settle into life in MLS and make an immediate impact with Vancouver. With his winning mentality and wealth of experience from Bayern, he is expected to become a central figure in the Whitecaps’ push for silverware this season. Sydney FC, meanwhile, will continue their search for marquee signings as they try to lure big-name players to Australia and boost the A-League’s international standing.
Additional reporting by Marko Brkic.
