FC Bayern Munich: A Lot to Look Forward to Next Season

As the news filtered through, I felt shattered. This week, Bayern officially announced that their association with Miroslav Klose, now a Lazio striker, was over. The news came about six months after Mark Van Bommel walked out of the Sabener Strasse.

It made me remember about the time when Roy Makaay was allowed to leave. However, Klose had to move on for his own good—especially because Joachim Loew said he must play regular football if he wants a place in the national squad.

As old faces leave, new ones are seen. A tired Manuel Neuer was seen in Bayern territory this week; he penned a five-year deal. His purchase was reportedly worth around €20 million or so. This was a horrible piece of business by Bayern in retrospect. Getting Manuel Neuer to Bayern was important; however, the price paid for a player who will be a free agent next season should be lower.

Many will say that this would have allowed Manchester United or another European giant to snatch him. However, Neuer, insisted that he wanted to remain in Germany and win the Bundesliga. Also, Schalke would be more than content to keep him for another season.

The deal can be viewed as a very good piece of business by Schalke. Clemens Tonnies and co. toyed with Bayern for as long as possible pushing Uli Hoeness and co. to the limit. Bayern is extremely desperate to lift the Champions League at the Allianz Arena next season; only desperate teams pay in excess of 20 million for a player who has one year left in his contract.

Bayern did some good business as well, though.

Rafinha, the experienced Brazilian, was purchased for about €5.5 million. He has had previous Bundesliga experience with Schalke and was one of the stars there. He left as he couldn't bear to live with Felix Magath for much longer last season. His spell at Genoa wasn't a good one.

In his defence, he hardly ever played in his natural position in Italy. This means that Philipp Lahm will move back to the left next season. Lahm is as good on the left as he is on the right, even though right-back is his natural position. In-fact, one can argue that Lahm becomes a better player when he plays on the left than on the right.

Arjen Robben will have to help Rafinha out as we all know that Brazilians are mostly attack-minded. Sometimes, Robben might have to back-track to help the defence. Robben might have to supply balls to a new striker, Nils Petersen, purchased from Energie Cottbus. The young Petersen is a proven goal-scorer in the 2 Bundesliga. Petersen has three years with Bayern to prove himself not only in the Bundesliga, but also in the Champions League.

The main issue over the last two seasons was the centre-back positions. Bayern and Jerome Boateng continue to flirt, but Manchester City might not be prepared to sell. Bayer Leverkusen's Arturo Vidal is another target; however, Leverkusen feels that the price Bayern offered for one of their most priced assets is a poor one. The price was said to be in the region of €10 million.

All in all, Bayern is desperate to sweep all titles next season. With Jupp Heynckes around, the players' confidence should return. Next season, the fans might finally be able to have a peaceful night of sleep instead of having the same old nightmares about Inter Milan and the previous season.

Adios, for now.