By sportswriter Oliver Trust
BERLIN, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Despite the presence of dozens of TV crews and hundreds of media representatives from around the world, Jerome Boateng remained as calm as ever.
The Bayern Munich defender and 2014 World Cup winner can draw on the experience of 250 games in the Bundesliga, 71 for Germany and 16 in the Premier League for Manchester City. Not even rumors that he may soon be leaving his current club seemed to unsettle him ahead of his country's World Cup curtain-raiser against Mexico this Sunday.
Looking stern, the 29-year-old made it clear he is entirely focused on Germany's mission to win the World Cup again. "I won't be commenting on the matter while in Russia, we have a World Cup to play and that is all that matters," the Berlin-born defender stressed. "I don't know why these things have been said at this point."
Meanwhile, 2,500 kilometers away at Bayern Munich's headquarters, club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge sparked rumors about Boateng's future by saying the defender would be available for sale if "we receive an offer and he tells us he is considering that offer."
While there remains much uncertainty over Boateng's future, some media reports have suggested that the defender has already decided to leave the 2013 treble winners after the World Cup.
The Munich-based Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reported that Chelsea and Manchester City could well be interested in signing Boateng, while other media sources suggest there is interest from Manchester United and FC Barcelona.
The tabloid Bild reported that Boateng's agent, former Bayern player Christian Nerlinger, has told the Bavarian club about Boateng's possible plans to join a foreign club. According to the paper, Rummenigge said Bayern had been informed about the plans by Nerlinger and "we know the topic is on our agenda; we're prepared."
In a recent interview after the German Cup final, Boateng talked about his age and this being his last chance to join a big club abroad. "You don't get many chances to play for a major European team. I've reached an age where you start to think about things like leaving and starting a new chapter in your career."
According to "Bild", the transfer fee is said to be at around 40 million euros. Boateng joined Bayern in 2010 for 13.5 million euros after failing to hold down a regular place in Manchester City's squad.
The paper also reported that Rummenigge and club president Uli Hoeness have already decided upon the defender's successor, with 22-year-old German international Niklas Sule slated to replace Boateng should he depart. Sule already plays for Bayern and has a contract with the club until 2022.
Media reports say the relationship between Boateng and his club has been strained for a while after Rummenigge criticized the defender's lack of professionalism. During an extended injury break, Boateng was accused of investing too much time in promotional activities and private appointments at the expense of his recovery and rehabilitation.
Nerlinger is said to be investigating the market to present possible options later. He has said that a decision would not be made before the end of the 2018 World Cup, and that Boateng would focus on the German team for the time being.
Boateng announced at a press conference in the German camp in Watutinki near Moscow, "I'm here to play a successful tournament with Germany and not to speak about the future. I'm fully focused on the World Cup."
