Latest news with #JeffBerding
New York Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
FC Cincinnati CEO hopeful of luring Thomas Muller to MLS: ‘We made him a good offer'
FC Cincinnati's co-CEO says the MLS club has offered a contract to Bayern Munich and Germany legend Thomas Muller. Jeff Berding is aware that Muller, 35, has 'many options' but hopes the forward can be persuaded by the 'great conditions' on offer in Cincinnati. Muller will leave Bayern at the end of the Club World Cup after 25 years, 751 games and 248 goals for the Bavarian team. Bayern's all-time record appearance holder has won 13 Bundesliga titles, two Champions Leagues and a World Cup, scoring 45 goals in 131 games for Germany. Cincinnati hold Muller's discovery rights, giving them first refusal to negotiate with him should he want to move to MLS, and Berding hopes he can be persuaded to continue his playing career in Ohio. Speaking to German publication Bild, Berding said: 'We made him a good offer, we had several discussions with his advisors. In the end, he has many options. We respect if he and his advisors are looking for something else. That's part of the football business. Advertisement 'It's not over until he signs with another club. We know this is his farewell tour here (at the Club World Cup in the U.S.) with Bayern Munich, and he'll then decide what to do next. We also know what we have here: a big stadium, a good atmosphere, and great conditions. Who knows what will happen in the end. 'We are a club with a great German history and we are capable of winning titles. Thomas is a winner; he has won a lot. We think he would fit in very well with us.' Muller scored twice as Bayern began their Club World Cup campaign with a 10-0 decimation of Auckland City at Cincinnati's home, TQL Stadium, last week. 'The entire stadium and the spectators were really very good. They have very good conditions here, I have to say,' the German said after his double. It's still too early what Muller's next chapter will be. By all indications, he is yet to make any decision, or even to commit to playing on; he could still retire and settle back into the Bavarian countryside. Muller has always been a football player first and, in typical fashion, he will not allow anything to get in the way of his or Bayern's participation at this Club World Cup. All we know for certain is that these are his last games for Bayern and he will not play for another German side. He remains a very good player, though. Muller's minutes in the Bundesliga declined significantly in 2024-25 and he only started 12 games, but he was still effective and were he to choose to move to MLS, he would doubtless be an asset to Cincinnati or any other franchise.
Qatar Tribune
16 hours ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
FC Cincinnati makes offer to sign Muller
dpa Berlin Major Football League side FC Cincinnati have made an offer to sign Bayern Munich legend Thomas Muller. 'We made him a good offer, we had some talks with his agents. In the end, he has many options. We respect if he and his agents are looking for something else. That's part of the football business,' Cincinnati CEO Jeff Berding told the Bild newspaper on Tuesday. Müller's contract with Bayern will end after the Club World Cup in the United States, which runs until July 14. The 2014 World Cup winner didn't receive a new deal from his boyhood club, where he played for 25 years. 'We're a club with a great German history and we're capable of winning titles. Thomas is a winner, he has already won a lot. We think he would fit in very well with us,' Berding said.
