SAO PAULO, Brazil - Netherlands striker Arjen Robben, pictured, will stay with Bayern Munich rather than taking the opportunity to follow national coach Louis van Gaal to Manchester United, the 30-year-old has told Dutch TV station NOS.
The Dutch dream of winning the Fifa World Cup for the first time ended with a semifinal defeat on penalties to Argentina in São Paulo.
They defeated hosts Brazil 3-0 on Saturday evening in a play-off for third place.
Van Gaal will now take over as manager of United while former Real Madrid and South Korea coach Guus Hiddink will take over the Dutch team for the second time ahead of the 2016 Uefa European Championship qualification campaign.
"I have a special bond with him," Robben, one of the stars of the Dutch campaign in Brazil, said of the veteran coach.
"He is the most important coach in my career. After the match [on Saturday], he did ask me to come to Manchester."
It was not clear how serious the offer was, but Robben, who could be seen laughing while speaking about it, added: "It is not an option. I will stay at Bayern Munich."
Robben, who scored three goals in the Brazil World Cup, has been in superb form.
United were on the verge of signing him from PSV Eindhoven in 2004, when he met then manager Sir Alex Ferguson, but the Dutch club said the offer was too low and Robben joined Chelsea instead. He later joined Real Madrid before moving to Bayern, for whom he scored the winning goal in last year's Uefa Champions League final. - Reuters
Van Gaal asked to be re-United with Robben
SAO PAULO, Brazil - Netherlands striker Arjen Robben, pictured, will stay with Bayern Munich rather than taking the opportunity to follow national coach Louis van Gaal to Manchester United, the 30-year-old has told Dutch TV station NOS.
The Dutch dream of winning the Fifa World Cup for the first time ended with a semifinal defeat on penalties to Argentina in São Paulo.
They defeated hosts Brazil 3-0 on Saturday evening in a play-off for third place.
Van Gaal will now take over as manager of United while former Real Madrid and South Korea coach Guus Hiddink will take over the Dutch team for the second time ahead of the 2016 Uefa European Championship qualification campaign.
"I have a special bond with him," Robben, one of the stars of the Dutch campaign in Brazil, said of the veteran coach.
"He is the most important coach in my career. After the match [on Saturday], he did ask me to come to Manchester."
It was not clear how serious the offer was, but Robben, who could be seen laughing while speaking about it, added: "It is not an option. I will stay at Bayern Munich."
Robben, who scored three goals in the Brazil World Cup, has been in superb form.
United were on the verge of signing him from PSV Eindhoven in 2004, when he met then manager Sir Alex Ferguson, but the Dutch club said the offer was too low and Robben joined Chelsea instead. He later joined Real Madrid before moving to Bayern, for whom he scored the winning goal in last year's Uefa Champions League final. - Reuters
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos