United blow as Neuer wants to stay in Germany

The 25-year-old has already told Champions League semi-finalists Schalke he will leave when his contract expires in 2012. -Reuters Photo   Dawn News Updates

MUNICH: Schalke 04′s want-away goalkeeper Manuel Neuer gave Manchester United a clear indication of his plans Saturday by revealing he wants to remain in Germany.

The 25-year-old has already told Champions League semi-finalists Schalke he will leave when his contract expires in 2012 and Bayern, who put four goals past him on Saturday, have made no secret of their desire to sign him for next season.

Schalke were soundly beaten 2-0 by Manchester United in Gelsenkirchen on Tuesday in their Champions League semi-final, first-leg, and the Royal Blues poor week continued with a 4-1 drubbing in Munich.

But, just as against Man United, Neuer’s outstanding performance kept the scoreline respectable as Bayern had a string of chances saved and Munich’s Dutch winger Arjen Robben was denied a hat-trick.

Neuer’s performances have drawn gushing praise from United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who has made no secret of the fact he would also like to sign him, but Neuer poured cold water on any potential move to the British Isles.“I want to remain in Germany,” he told German Sky television.

The Bavarian giants are reported to be ready to pay around 20 million euros for Neuer and he received a mixed response from Bayern’s fans during the Bundesliga clash.

There were positive banners welcoming the world-class goalkeeper, but some placards demanding ‘No Neuer!’ were displayed around the Allianz Arena, just as they were the last time the two sides met in the German Cup last month.

One poignant banner read: ‘Hooray, we’re gettin’ a world-class goalkeeper – and a world-class hypocrite’.

Berlin newspaper Tagesspiegel reported Hertha Berlin have already begun negotiations with Bayern’s second-choice goalkeeper Thomas Kraft, who was demoted to the bench last month and is out of contract at the end of the season.

With Bayern’s first-choice goalkeeper Hans-Joerg Butt hinting he may retire at the end of the season and Neuer tipped to join, a move to Berlin would make sense for Kraft.

A potential replacement for Neuer at Schalke is reported to be relegation-threatened Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ralf Faehrmann, who has said he is not interested in playing second division football.“I want to play in the Bundesliga,” Faehrmann told Bild. “If that is not with Frankfurt, then with someone else.”