Bayern chairman rules out Messi bid

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has ruled out bidding for superstar Lionel Messi, who has a buyout clause worth 250 million euros ($338.5 million) in his Barcelona contract."We are talking about simply absurd figures, a transfer fee that is even higher than what we spent on Javi Martinez. We won't go there," Rummenigge told German Sky Sports."Barcelona's president Sandro Rosell is an old friend and I know they would never sell Messi. He is a saint at Barcelona."And I think it would be in Messi's best interest to stay at Barcelona. He fits in perfectly there."Rumours of a Bayern bid for Messi, which would see the Argentinian link up with his former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, have been circulating in Germany.The Bavarians could probably afford the enormous sum. A fortnight ago Bayern revealed they had posted a record 432.8 million euros in sales during last season's campaign.They became the first German club to claim the treble when they won the Champions League, a 23rd German championship and the DFB Cup.But even Bayern coach Guardiola has said his former protege is at the right club."Would I sign Messi? No, no! Barcelona is the best place for him," Guardiola is reported to have said.Bayern won 3-0 at German rivals Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, in a repeat of May's Champions League final, and are four points clear in the Bundesliga having already reached the knock-out phase in Europe.

Source: AFP