Injured Robben only to return in 2011?

Bayern Munich's weekend wasn't the best. First they lost on Friday evening against promoted 1.FC Kaiserslautern and then on Sunday it was made public that their Dutch winger Arjen Robben could be out for the rest of the year 2010. It would be a big blow to Bayern Munich and their coach Louis van Gaal for whom Robben was one of the key players in a very successful 2009/10 season. This would mean that Robben would most likely only return after the winter break in January 2011.

"It is more than questionable whether Arjen will be able to play for us in the Bundesliga's round of matches before Christmas," Bayern's Sports Director Christian Nerlinger told German tabloid Bild on Sunday.

The 26 year old Robben was a key element in the later part of the Netherlands 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign, but a thigh injury picked-up prior to the tournament had forced him to initially sit out of the Oranje matches hasn't healed. Now this injury is back to haunt Robben as according to Bayern Munich team doctor Dr. Mueller Wohlfarth he had not been treated properly by the Dutch team doctors. He claims the Dutch doctors just ensured Robben would be fit for the World Cup, but actually the injury was so severe that he shouldn't have been played in South Africa.

Bayern have taken the matter to FIFA and have asked for compensation from the Dutch Football Association. There is no provision for such a case, but the German giants do think that the Dutch are to blame for their loss of their star player, which could hamper their season. And sometime next month a meeting is set to be held between Bayern and the Dutch FA.

Rumours out of Munich say that Bayern are now looking at last minute options to fill the gap left by Robben's long injury lay-off. And it is being said that they have once more turned to Real Madrid and are looking at another Dutch midfielder. This time around it is Rafael van der Vaart, who was not in the Real Madrid's squad against RCD Mallorca yesterday, and he has been told my coach Jose Mourinho to look for another club.