Mats Hummels is not a man who is afraid to speak his mind.
While Germany go in search of back-to-back major trophies, the defender has been forced to answer questions on everything from his future to whether or not he is terrified of a certain Northern Irishman.
As you may know, Hummels has recently pissed off a large section of his native country by announcing he will leave Borussia Dortmund this summer to join rivals Bayern Munich.
TRANSFER COMPLETE! #FCBayern have also signed @matshummels, with the centre back agreeing a contract until 2021 too! pic.twitter.com/YShoT9dlL9
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) May 10, 2016
After years of speculation linking him with a move to the Premier League, the centre-back turned down an approach from Manchester United in favour of staying in Germany. But that’s not to say he didn’t entertain the thought of a move to Old Trafford, but the FA Cup champions just didn’t meet his criteria.
“Fundamentally, England, Spain and Germany were the relevant leagues I could see myself playing football in,” he told Suddeutsche Zeitung.
“But at this stage there just was not that one English club where the overall package was fitting.
“The overall package means: a club which fascinates me; a club I have always wanted to join, and where the sporting constellation is right, and which of course plays Champions League football next season.
“And because of the latter one club was ruled out, and you can envision which club that was.”
Although he was linked with pretty much every top club in Europe, Hummels explained that he was not approached by any club in La Liga nor did Arsene Wenger attempt to lure him to Arsenal.
“I don’t have to beat about the bush, and pretend they [Arsenal] wanted me,” he said.
“There was no offer. The same applies for Spain, there was always contact but no option right now. That’s why I now have made the fundamental decision to continue my career in Germany.”
