Bayern Ask Jerome Boateng To Leave

By Max Wise

Bayern Munich’s world-cup winning defender, Jerome Boateng, has been asked to leave the German champions by club president Uli Hoeness.

Boateng has been underutilized by head coach Niko Kovac this season, featuring in just 20 Bundesliga games and was left on the bench for Saturday’s 3-0 win over RB Leipzig in the DFB-Pokal final.

Kovac has often preferred the centre-back pairing of Matts Hummels and Nicklas Sule for majority of the campaign, as was evident in Saturday’s game.

Bayern Munich will be losing the services of seasoned campaigners like Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Rafinha in the summer, and the 30-year-old defender could be set to join them in exiting the Allianz Arena after club President Uli Hoeness asked Boateng to find a new club.

"I would advise him to leave the club. I think he needs a new challenge," Bayern president Hoeness told Bavarian broadcaster BR on Sunday.

"He looks out of place. As a friend, I would advise him to find a new club."

Boateng, who joined Bayern Munich from Manchester City in the summer of 2011, still has two years remaining on his current contract and came close to joining Paris Saint Germain last summer.

The former Hertha Berlin defender has won seven Bundesliga titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2013 during his time at the Bavarians.

Alongside Mats Hummels and Thomas Muller, Boateng was recently exiled from the German national team by Joachim Low in order to give youth a chance following their dismal world cup campaign.