Ivica Olic: There was an offer from a Moscow club, but it didn’t work out

Bayern Munich outcast Ivica Olica commented on his current role at the German club and hinted he was close to a return to Russia this winter, but the deal fell through.

«At the moment I am comfortable in my role in the Bayern team. I appreciate the fact that it’s one of the best clubs in the world, so inevitably it’s very competitive, but I’d like to play more regular football. I’d be more prepared to fight for a first team place if I was twenty, but now I have maybe two or three years to play at the top level, and I don’t want to spend them on the bench. I showed I still have the quality with the double strike against Marseille, but, even as a youngster, I didn’t deal well with being a sub.»

«What are the chances you will leave Bayern when your contract expires this summer?»

«There is a clause in my contract, which means that it gets extended by a year automatically on the condition that I play more than 20 games a season. That includes any game where I play over 45 minutes, so I already have 14 so far. Hopefully, I will reach the necessary milestone and stay here. Bayern want to keep me, but I will consider my options. There is a very good offer from Wolfsburg as well.»

«If the deal is extended, but you chose to leave anyway, will Bayern let you go?»

«I have a great relationship with the management, and hopefully they would find a compromise.»

«Have you considered a return to Russia?»

«I thought about it, but it doesn’t seem plausible. I remember during my time in Russia clubs avoided signing foreigners over 30 years old, and I am 32 now. Though I have to say I find this approach a little strange: If a player is performing well, what difference does it make if he is old? I have to admit, there was an offer from a Russian outfit four months ago, but it didn’t lead to anything.»

«Could you elaborate on that?»

«I won’t name the club, as I don’t think they were 100% serious. But it was from Moscow, and it wasn’t CSKA. If I ever return to Russia, it will have to be the capital,» the Croatian striker told Sport-Express.