Rummeneigge: No contract prohibiting Pep from signing Bayern players

Bayern Munich have confirmed that Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola is not contractually prohibited from signing players from his former club.

Bayern’s confirmation comes after Bayern Munich winger Douglas Costa was quoted by Brazilian television network Globo Esporte as saying the opposite, earlier this week.

He said of his former coach Pep Guardiola: “It is something he has in the contract, a clause that he can’t take anyone from Bayern.”

Sources at City, however, said that is not the case and City are free to do business with Bayern Munich in the future.

Speaking at a German Football League meeting in Frankfurt on Thursday, the Bavarian’s CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed the PA report.

“There is no agreement,” the Bayern Chief said, adding that he’s not worried Guardiola will go after star players like Manuel Neuer, David Alaba or Douglas Costa, who are all under long-term contracts at the Allianz Arena.

He said: “Nobody needs to make any enquiries about them.”

Earlier this week, Rummenigge had already ruled out that players will leave Bayern Munich against the club’s will this summer.

“We have closed the door,” he told Sport Bild amid speculation linking Real Madrid with Robert Lewandowski and David Alaba.