Bayern Munich stars look forward to playing in Delhi

German Bundesliga giants FC Bayern Munich return to India for a fifth visit of a team from the Bavarian side. This time around it will be the full first team squad who will be coming to New Delhi next month for the Audi Football Summit with the club officials and players looking forward to the visit.

FC Bayern Munich AG CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who also happens to be the chairman of the European Club Association, said, "I have heard about the great experiences from our players and coaches when they traveled for Oliver Kahn's farewell match (to Kolkata in May 2008). We are now delighted to bring the full first team to India. Many of us are excited about the country, the city of Delhi, the people and their enthusiasm for football."

For winger Thomas Mueller the trip to Delhi will be his second visit to India. Thomas said, "I am happy to come back after the visit to Kolkata and Siliguri in January 2009." Mueller, the top scorer and 'Best Young Player' at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, sought to motivate young Indian footballers by saying, “Football is the best team sport in the world," and added by saying that he's 'happy that more and more kids are playing the game in India'.

Mueller’s Bayern and Germany team-mate Mario Gomez said that the entire team was looking forward to play against India at the Audi Football Summit. Gomez about whom former Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld had recently said that he was as important to Bayern Munich as Lionel Messi is to Barcelona, had joined the German champion for a record transfer fee from Stuttgart in 2009. The star striker, who has 16 goals from 16 matches in the Bundesliga, said, "The trip to India will be a big experience for us, as most of us have not been to India."

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes said, he would like to utilize the opportunity to the hilt at the Audi Football Summit. "We are coming to India after a week long training camp in Qatar. We will want to show quality football and want to present ourselves in the best possible manner. Naturally, I would like to utilize the opportunity to learn more about Indian football. I really look forward to it," said Heynckes, a member of the West German side which won the 1972 European Championship and the 1974 FIFA World Cup.

More information about the match and where to buy tickets online are available at www.audifootballsummit.in

The official Twitter account of the Audi Football Summit can be found under www.twitter.com/AudiFS2012 .