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Veteran hot-shot Pizarro keen to stay in Germany

Reuters

Berlin - Peru veteran Claudio Pizarro, the top foreign goal-scorer in the Bundesliga's history, has said he wants to keep playing in Germany's top flight now his Bayern Munich contract has expired.

Having scored 176 German league goals during spells at both Werder Bremen and Bayern, Pizarro is now out of contract and seeking a new employer to prolong his Bundesliga career having not been offered a new Munich deal.

The 36-year-old striker was in the Peru squad for Friday's Copa America third-place play-off against Paraguay on Friday and says he will focus on finding employment once the tournament is over.

"That would be ideal (to stay in Germany)," he told the Munich-based Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

"I have already had a few offers, but I have waited until the last minute, because I really wanted to stay with FC Bayern.

"I don't know what will happen now, I have been totally focused on the Copa America and as soon as it's over, I'll analyse my options and come to a decision.

"I have three sons who are born in Germany and have grown up there.

"They are 15, 13 and nine and I want to offer them the best chance of some stability, because they have already moved a few times," added Pizarro, who also spent a year on a loan spell at Chelsea in the 2007/08 season.

"I simply like Munich. It's a wonderful city and everything is close by, such as the lakes and the mountains."

Last season, Pizarro failed to score in his 13 league appearances having netted an impressive 10 Bundesliga goals in 17 matches, mainly off the bench, in the 2013/14 season.

But Pizarro ruled out an immediate return to his home country, "because of reasons of security. If that wasn't the case, I'd go back to Peru without any doubts.

"But I don't want to put my family in an uncomfortable situation.

"It's sad, but that's the way it is and I want to play for a few years more. I feel good still."

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