Peruvian Pizarro returns to Bayern Munich

German Bundesliga giants FC Bayern Munich have resigned Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro on a one year contract. Pizarro returns to Munich for a second after after having played for the Bavarians from 2001 to 2007 in which he scored 71 goals in 174 matches besides winning numerous Bundesliga and German Cup titles.

Bayern Munich's Director of Sport Christian Nerlinger said, "We are very happy that we were able to sign Claudio Pizzaro, an international player who is dangerous in front of the goal."

Bayern Munich have signed 33 year old Pizarro as back-up to number one striker Mario Gomez as Ivica Olic is leaving the club to VfL Wolfsburg and young Nils Pedersen has had a tough first season in the German top flight. Pizarro brings with him the necessary experience and pedigree as he is the highest foreign goalscorer in the Bundesliga with 160 goals in 333 appearances for Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich.

Like in 2001 Pizarro joins Bayern from Bremen, but this time on a free transfer. He played the last few years at Werder Bremen after a transfer from Bayern Munich to Chelsea FC in 2007, but as he didn't make his breakthrough he first returned to Bremen on loan and then on a permanent contract.

Pizarro is the fourth signing at Bayern Munich for the new season as the club works to strengthen its bench and put more pressure on their star player. Earlier Swiss young midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri (FC Basel), Brazilian defender Dante Bonfim Costa Santos (Borussia Mönchengladbach) and new number two goalkeeper Tom Starke (1899 Hoffenheim) had been signed.

Could Claudio Pizarro return to Bayern Munich?

With Croatian striker Ivica Olic set to leave FC Bayern Munich in the summer the German Bundesliga giants are on the lookout for a suitable replacement as back-up to star striker Mario Gomez. And this could see the return of Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro from Werder Bremen to the Bavarian capital.

33 year old Claudio Pizarro is one of the few positives in an injury-marred Werder Bremen season having scored 16 Bundesliga goals so far. The North German club want to renew his contract, but Pizarro has taken the option of a contractually specified termination clause, and could therefore leave Bremen in the summer on a free transfer.

Earlier in the week there had been reports that Pizarro had already signed a contract with Bayern to return to Munich, but that was not confirmed or denied by the club, the player or his agent.

Bremen manager Klaus Allofs only said about the media reports that Werder Bremen had not been intimidated about any such move and he still had hopes that Pizarro would remain in Bremen.

For Bayern Munich Pizarro would be the perfect striker number two alongside Mario Gomez. Pizarro has played six successful years at the club between 2001 and 2007 plus he has the class alongside the experience to help the club achieve its goals.