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Philipp Lahm insists Thomas Muller 'lives and breathes Bayern Munich'

Reuters

Bayern Munich skipper Philipp Lahm couldn't be happier that goal machine Thomas Muller is poised to stay with the Bavarian champs, despite reported interest from Manchester United.

Muller, 25, has been associated with a move to a Louis van Gaal side desperate for goal-scoring options, though Bayern is adamant that its star attacker is not for sale, according to an ESPNFC report.

Team captain Lahm says Muller is more than just a commodity.

"Thomas is one of those role models you can't just attach a price tag to. He lives and breathes Bayern Munich. He is a very, very important player for us," the 113-time capped German international told Munchner Merkur, courtesy of ESPNFC.

Muller's goal-scoring exploits are integral to the thrice-consecutive league champions, but beyond his domestic form, the man who has scored 27 goals for Germany's national side is also key to the attack-minded club's successes in the Champions League.

Manchester United's reported interest in Muller comes on the back of a period of controversy for Bayern, as manager Pep Guardiola's recent transfer policy focuses on the best available players, not just the best German ones.

Guardiola sold Toni Kross to Real Madrid last year, replacing him with Xabi Alonzo. Pundits and supporters critical of the move coined the term "FC Bayern Espanol" as the club's transfers shifted towards buying players rather than bringing them through the youth system.

"Nobody has to fear that we at FC Bayern lose our identity. Just look at this team," Lahm said. "We have Thomas Muller, Holger Badstuber, David Alaba and me, we all came through the ranks. We also have Manuel Neuer, Franck Ribery, and Arjen Robben. They have been here for so long that (their) heart beats red."

Club CEO and former legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge snuffed out talk of a shift and highlighted the importance of just recruiting the best talent regardless of country of birth, saying, "The quality of a player matters for FC Bayern, not the nationality."

The best available attacking option at Bayern's disposal is Muller, and all signs point to him staying at Allianz Arena as the club searches for a fourth Bundesliga title on the trot.

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