Rummenigge: Munich ready to renew Arjen Robben contract

Feb 15, 2012, 11:00 GMT

Munich - Bayern Munich rate Dutch winger Arjen Robben a 'superstar' and want to renew his contract beyond 2013, the chairman of the German Bundesliga club, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, said in an interview published on Wednesday.

Rummenigge told the Sport Bild weekly he was not concerned that Robben was currently benched and that he is needed to help fulfil Munich's ambitious goals.

'All of us are totally convinced of Arjen even if he spends some time on the bench. We need him to fulfil our goals,' Rummenigge said.

Rummenigge said that first contract renewal talks with Robben's father/advisor have been held and that the club has sent a clear signal that 'we are ready to renew the contract.'

Robben, who came to Munich in 2009 from Real Madrid, recently named a contract extension 'a formality' but is now not happy with a role as sub after Munich started indifferently into 2012 and lost the league lead to Borussia Dortmund.

The Bundesliga title and reaching the Champions League final in their home stadium remain top priorities, and Munich have also reached the semi-finals of the German cup as the triple remains possible.

Rummenigge said Robben had additional problems as he is still not 100 per cent after another injury layoff.

'Of course he wasn't happy to be benched. But you should not forget that Arjen was injured. When a player returns (from injury) at a stage when the team is not doing well then it isn't easy for him either,' said Rummenigge.

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