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EURO BITES: Bundesliga - Bayern and the Premier League criticised, and a teenage refugee set for Bundesliga contract?

Is a teenage refugee about to play in the Bundesliga? Chris Leischwitz rounds up the latest news from Germany.

BAYERN MUNICH’S TRIP TO QATAR IS UNPOPULAR

Bayern Munich has been publicly criticised for its annual winter training camp in Doha – not only by liberal politicians, but also from by its own fan clubs. It is all down to the human rights situation in Qatar.

To diffuse the situation, Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stated that the location was solely chosen for its perfect conditions, and further explained that the team would serve as ambassador “for integration and a free way of life”.

In the meantime, the competition among the squad is in full swing. Arjen Robben and David Alaba have both returned to training after month-long injuries, and Mario Götze will likely follow soon.

Munich will open the second leg of the season with an away match in Hamburg on Friday, January 22.

HÖWEDES INJURED AFTER SHORTENED WARM-UP

Schalke’s captain Benedikt Höwedes suffered an unfortunate injury during a friendly match in Florida and is expecting a week-long absence ahead of the return of the Bundesliga.

When trying a back-heel, the defender felt pain in the thigh and was immediately substituted in the friendly against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, which is part of the so-called Florida Cup.

Schalke manager André Breitenreiter in part blamed the organisers of the tournament for the injury. According to him, his team had to significantly reduce the warm-up time because it had been unclear on what pitch the match would take place.

MAINZ DEFEATED IN (NOT SO) FRIENDLY AGAINST STANDARD LIEGE

A friendly match between FSV Mainz 05 and the Belgian club Standard Liège was almost abandoned after 80 minutes when almost all players of both clubs got into a scuffle after a rough foul by a Belgian player.

In the following turmoil, Mainz player Henrique Sereno was punched in the face.

However, the game was continued, Liège won it 3-0.

Such incidents with foreign clubs were already reported from several Bundesliga training camps last summer, and seem to become a rising problem.

WATZKE CRITICISES PREMIER LEAGUE

Borussia Dortmund general manager has had some harsh words to say about the Premier League and it’s conduct towards players.

According to Hans-Joachim Watzke, many players are “pressed like lemons” due to the tough match schedule in which decent training is often not possible.

Watzke expressed his hope that many players from Germany will think twice before following the big money to England.

“Those who not only reflect about how much they have in the moneybag at the end of the month will take these conditions into account,” he said.

Dortmund, among other clubs, is concerned to lose some of its best players to English clubs due to offers that German sides cannot compete with.

GÜNDOGAN LEAVES HIS FUTURE OPEN

Ilkay Gündogan has refused to confirm if he will stay with Borussia Dortmund.

The midfielder’s contract runs until 2017, but Bild reports he stated during a training camp in Dubai that he has not come up with a decision yet on his future.

However, a Hamburg newspaper wrote that the German international has already rejected offers from Juventus Turin.

In the meantime, Dortmund’s Bundesliga topscorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, recently elected Africa’s player of the year, is said to stay with the black-and-yellow at least until the end of the season. The same applies to defender Neven Subotic, according to manager Thomas Tuchel.

HAMBURG TO SIGN A YOUNG REFUGEE?

Hamburger SV is about to sign a refugee from Gambia who reportedly has never played for an actual football club before.

HSV sports executive Peter Knäbel confirmed to Bild that the club will try to bind Bakery Jatta to a contract as soon as possible.

Manager Bruno Labbadia explained after only three training sessions that that the 17-year-old “has done a lot of things right”.

Due to tough FIFA regulations concerning the transfer of underage non-EU-citizens, the club will likely have to wait until Jatta’s 18th birthday in early July. Other clubs have reportedly shown interest in him as well.