Hindsight offers Müller clear perspective on swapping Bayern for Vancouver

The former Bayern Munich and Germany legend reflected on his departure from the club and returning to see their game against Mainz.

Ex-Bayern Munich star Thomas Müller revealed that he didn’t want to leave the Bavarian giants in, but feels his move to Vancouver Whitecaps was beneficial from a playing perspective.

“Despite my changed role at FC Bayern, I felt very comfortable; I truly enjoyed being part of the team and would have liked to stay,” the 2014 World Cup winner told Süddeutsche Zeitung. 

“Looking back, I can say that the adventure in Vancouver probably gave me more emotionally as a footballer than a first half of the season with FC Bayern as a squad player would have.

“I never really lost touch with the club; I still talk to some of the players on the phone or chat with club officials on WhatsApp.

“My departure was exactly how you’d imagine it in a romantic sense: it wasn’t just a matter of handing over the keys and being gone. All my farewell parties helped with that,” he added. 

The 36-year-old returned to the Allianz Arena for Bayern’s last home game of 2025 against Mainz and made sure to visit the Bavarians’ training campus and staff. 

“After landing, one of the first things I did in Germany was to visit the guys at Säbener Straße.

“We had arranged it that way; I’m still in a couple of group chats, for example, there’s a small golf community among the players.

“And I also stopped by to see the physio again; he’s known me for years. I simply returned to where I started from,” Müller explained.