Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said he will be the mediator to help restore ‘happiness, harmony and loyalty’ in football.
Die Roten were never a part of the breakaway Super League and chairman Rummenigge spoke to Tuttosport about the collapse of the competition just days after the announcement.
“Bayern didn’t win, nor Rummenigge, but real football,” the former Inter striker told Tuttosport. “The one we are all in love with.”
Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said he will be the mediator to help restore ‘happiness, harmony and loyalty’ in football.
Die Roten were never a part of the breakaway Super League and chairman Rummenigge spoke to Tuttosport about the collapse of the competition just days after the announcement.
“Bayern didn’t win, nor Rummenigge, but real football,” the former Inter striker told Tuttosport. “The one we are all in love with.”
The former striker has been asked to be an intermediary among the 12 top clubs of the initial split, UEFA and European football.
“I’m known for being a man of dialogue and not of war,” Rummenigge added. “So the President of the UEFA, [Aleksander] Ceferin, asked me to give him a hand in order to solve the problems and start again after very difficult days for the world of football.”
Rummenigge explained how he experienced the announcement of the Super League.
“I’m 65 and I have seen a lot in my life,” the Bayern chairman continued. “These were not easy days, but the important thing is that the story is over.
“What happened is displeasing to everyone, even to those who gave birth to the Super League.
“On Tuesday evening I heard from Ferran Soriano, the CEO of Manchester City, and in addition to confirming my retirement, he apologised for the incident.
“After him, apologies from many clubs arrived. They were very wrong, but that’s not what interests me now. The important thing is to come out of the crisis with intelligence.”
Rummenigge said he wants to work to bring ‘happiness, harmony and loyalty’ back to football, when asked what he would do if he had a magic wand.
“I would immediately bring back happiness, harmony and loyalty to the whole world of football,” Rummenigge said. “Unfortunately, I don’t have it, so we’ll have to work.
“Let’s wait to see for the storm to calm down, then we will focus on dialogue. President Ceferin, and I think like him, has reassured me in the last few hours that he has no intentions of closing the door in the face of anyone.”
And the Bayern chairman believes that will include former ECA President and current Juventus patron Andrea Agnelli.
“I don’t know if peace between the two will be possible,” Rummenigge said. “Ceferin is very disappointed.
“That said, the Super League was made up of 12 teams, not just by Agnelli.”
Rummenigge was asked if he has spoken to Agnelli after the announcement, but revealed he decided not to.
“No, but by my choice,” he said. “This is not the time to call him. It’s not important to speak quickly.
“Better let it boil down. Then I will understand from Andrea the reason that led him to behave in that way and with dialogue we will all come out together.
“I don’t exclude anything.”