Messi to Bayern? ‘We Can’t Afford It’, Jokes Mueller

Bayern Munich forward Thomas Mueller jokingly admitted Thursday that European champions do not have the financial capital to sign Barcelona star Lionel Messi if he is available.

“I spoke to our financial director once or twice over the past months. And I don’t think there’s anything we can do,” a jestful Mueller said when asked about the scope of signing Messi at a promotional event in Munich.

Messi currently receives an annual wage of more than EUR 50 million ($59 million), about three times as much as Bavaria's highest-paid stars, such as Robert Lewandowski, Manuel Neuer and Mueller.

Mueller acknowledged that he never foresaw Messi leaving Barcelona before retiring as a professional, but claimed he recognized why the possibility of quitting Camp Nou in Argentina drew so much attention.

“The fact that some change is happening now might also be interesting for the footballing world,” said Mueller.

“Apart from Barcelona fans, which I can understand, nobody is really able to see this departure with a critical eye. People are rather curious to know what new avenues will open up,” he added.

Bayern Chief Executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told Italian sports daily Tuttosport that the German club could "not pay a player of that calibre."

“That is not part of our policy or our philosophy,” he said.

Manchester City, managed by longtime Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, are the teams most directly connected to the six-time winner of the Ballon d'Or.