Salihamidzic to leave Bayern this summer

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1323 votes: 2

16.01.2007

As increasingly rumoured during Bayern's ten-day winter training camp in Dubai, Hasan Salihamidzic is to leave the Munich club when his current contract expires on 30 June this year and will move on a free transfer to Turin giants Juventus. The 'Old Lady' of Italian football, the most successful club in the history of the Serie A top flight, have offered a four-year deal to the Bosnia midfielder, who becomes the third player definitely leaving Bayern at the end of term along with Mehmet Scholl (retiring) and Ali Karimi (destination not yet known).

"I'm definitely moving to Juventus this summer," the 30-year-old utility man told weekly magazine kicker, explaining that a decision to move on after nine glorious seasons in Bavaria "had become more and more concrete over the last few days. It's a great package: I get to experience another new country and a completely new set of circumstances at the age of 30, four years is a nice length of contract, and it's financially acceptable too."

Six championships, four Cups

The player nicknamed Brazzo is the fourth longest-serving player at Bayern after Mehmet Scholl, Oliver Kahn and Bernd Dreher. Salihamidzic arrived in Germany as a 15-year-old temporary refugee from the civil war engulfing his Bosnian homeland, and joined Hamburg SV while staying with relatives in the northern port city. He made his Bundesiga debut during Felix Magath's spell at the Hamburg helm, before switching to Munich in 1998 and going on to claim six Bundesliga titles and four DFB German Cup triumphs.

The player, whose nickname means 'great lad' and who earned a total of 42 caps for Bosnia before ending his international career last year, enjoyed the greatest moment of his career to date in 2001 as a regular member of the Bayern side which claimed the Champions League. 'Brazzo' scored from the spot in the penalty shoot-out against Valencia, helping to earn Bayern their first European crown since 1976. The same team went on to beat Boca Juniors and hoist the World Club Cup.

Going out in style

"I've had a fantastic time in Munich," declared Salihamidzic, looking forward to a reunion with former Reds team-mate Robert Kovac once he arrives in Turin. Juventus were compulsorily relegated to Serie B at the end of last season after a match-fixing scandal and currently lie sixth in the Italian second division, three points off leaders SSC Napoli, although a win at home to AC Cesena on Tuesday evening would see Juve recover top spot.

Talks with Bayern general manager Uli Hoeneß over a potential extension to his stay in Bavaria had been "totally open," Salihamidzic reported. "There were no secrets between us. I took an early decision, because I want to concentrate totally on my football for the rest of the season," the versatile midfielder explained. The father-of-three is now determined to add to his honours collection before crossing the Alps, preferably with another Champions League triumph: "I'd like to go out in style."