Bayern Munich train in Qatar

German giants FC Bayern Munich are preparing themselves in Qatar ahead of the Bundesliga restart on January 15. They will be in the Gulf until January 9 after arriving there yesterday afternoon.

The reasons behind a winter camp in the Gulf is quite simple if one knows the weather conditions back home in Germany, snow and frost for the last five/six weeks. It is the first time that Bayern Munich are having their winter camp in Qatar after having had their camps in Dubai over the last few years and to some the timing might come as a surprise as the 2011 AFC Asian Cup will kickoff on Friday, but the Bavarians have kept a very low profile about their camp in Qatar.

Talking about the camp coach Louis van Gaal said, "It's better for the players' musculature if we train in warm conditions, and it also helps their recovery times."

Bayern will be training at the international class Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence. And as part of their camp they will play a friendly game agaist Qatar Stars League side Al Wakrah Sports Club. The match will be played on Saturday, January 8 at the Al Khor Stadium.

But not all players have travelled to Qatar. Toni Kroos, Ivica Olic and Rouven Sattelmaier have stayed back in Munich for an individual sports rehab programme, while Danijel Pranjic was a late drop out and might join his team mates or stay back in Munich depending on how his illness develops. If the medical tests go fine then new signing Luis Gustavo from 1899 Hoffenheim will join his new team mates later today.

But there are others who have left the club. Argentinian international Martin Demichelis has left Munich after seven and a half years to join Spanish La Liga side FC Malaga, while Austrian teenager David Alaba has gone on loan to 1899 Hoffenheim as part of the Luis Gustavo deal.

But coach Louis van Gaal played a prank with the media about a new signing for attack. Van Gaal said, "We might get another player this week, someone who can play in every attacking position. The likelihood of the player’s arrival was '99 percent'." In the end it turned out to be Arjen Robben, who has been out injured since the 2010 World Cup, who directly joined the team from his holiday destination of Dubai.