Veteran German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is reportedly not part of Jose Mourinho’s plans at Manchester United and is believed to be in talks with Turkish Superlig club Besiktas over a possible transfer.
A number of big names have been left out of Manchester United’s pre-season tour because of their exertions at the European Championships in France over the summer. The likes of Matteo Darmian, Morgan Schneiderlin, Anthony Martial and Marouane Fellaini will not be joining the Red Devils in China. However, one high-profile absentee may not be part of Mourinho’s squad even when the season kicks off in August.
Bastian Schweinsteiger played an important role for Germany as they reached the Euro 2016 semi-final, only to be knocked out by hosts France. His future role at Manchester United is under scrutiny though, as the 31-year old struggles to maintain fitness with a debilitating knee injury.
Manchester United are reportedly willing to listen to offers for the midfielder this summer. Turkish club Besiktas have approached the club to negotiate a possible loan deal for the World Cup winning midfielder, according to Turkish media outlet LigTV. Manager Senol Gunes is very interested in Schweinsteiger and is a big admirer of his leadership abilities.
The Louis van Gaal signing was hailed as a masterstroke by many when he joined from Bayern Munich last summer for £6.5 million. However, the club paid the price for the Dutch manager’s failure to take into account the German captain’s injury record. Schweinsteiger made just 18 league appearances for Manchester United last season, fewer than each of his previous two seasons.
Schweinsteiger faced familiar injury problems before Die Mannschaft’s semi-final clash against France at Euro 2016, but managed to pass a late fitness test and featured in the 2-0 defeat. However, the recurrent injuries have noticeably taken a toll on the former Bayern midfielder, prompting Germany legend Michael Ballack to advise him to retire from international football.
Manchester United now find themselves in a fix. Mourinho has no use for the player, but Schweinsteiger still has two years to go on the three-year contract he signed last summer. The Red Devils would be forced to pay £14 million in wages if they terminated his contract, while neither the player nor the club would be benefited if he is demoted to the bench or the reserves. A loan move to Besiktas with an option to buy the player could be the best possible move for all parties at this juncture.
