Muller urges Bayern to hijack Man United's pursuit of £43m Freiburg midfielder Manzambi

Bayern Munich legend Thomas Muller has thrown his weight behind a move for Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi, publicly urging his former club to act — complicating reported interest from Manchester United in the £43 million-rated 20-year-old.

Manzambi caught the eye at the World Cup this week, scoring twice as Switzerland beat Bosnia & Herzegovina 4-1 in North America. The performance prompted Muller to speak up on MagentaTV, where he made his recommendation clear.

“He’s a good player overall. We’ve had him on our list for a while now,” Muller said. “For me, he’s someone — and now we can make a headline — that FC Bayern should also consider. You can sense his flexibility. You can also sense his carefree attitude. At the same time, you can already see a certain maturity in his actions, in his decision-making, his work ethic.”

Muller also highlighted Manzambi’s positional versatility, noting that the player — who wears the No.9 shirt at Freiburg — can operate as a six, eight, or ten. “I think his development is very, very good,” he added.

United have been credited with interest in Manzambi over recent months, though no formal move has been reported. The club has already agreed terms on one summer signing, with Atalanta midfielder Ederson set to join in a deal worth £35 million plus £3.8 million in add-ons.

Manzambi, speaking via FIFA’s official channels after his brace, said the moment was almost too much to process. “Honestly, it’s incredible — it’s the first brace of my career, and at the World Cup on top of that. Scoring two goals in front of the fans and my family, that’s very, very nice. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight.”

Whether Bayern act on Muller’s endorsement remains to be seen, but the public intervention from one of the club’s most recognisable figures adds a new dimension to what had been a quietly developing transfer story. United, still in the early stages of their summer rebuild, may now face stiffer competition for a player whose stock is rising by the game.