Bayern Munich's spiky statement in response to Lahm's retirement

Bayern Munich's spiky statement in response to Lahm's retirement

Bayern Munich have given a spiky response to Philipp Lahm's decision to announce his retirement from football. 

Lahm revealed on Tuesday that this would be his last season with the club saying, at 33, he wants to go out at the highest level. 

German champions Bayern were seemingly unaware of the player's intentions and have expressed their "surprise" at Tuesday's events. 

A statement signed by chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge read: "FC Bayern Munich is surprised by the approach of Philipp Lahm and his adviser. 

"Uli Hoeness and I have held open, intensive and constructive talks with Philipp in recent months about a possible position as sporting director of our club. 

"At the end of last week, he informed us that he is currently not available for such a position and that he would like an early termination of his player contract, which runs until June 2018, at the end of the current season.

"Until yesterday we assumed that there would be a joint announcement on this decision by Philipp Lahm and FC Bayern Munich. 

"We would like to make clear that the door will always remain open for Philipp at FC Bayern Munich ." 

Lahm had previously revealed: "I told the officials that I will stop playing football at the end of the season. I think this is the right point in time to leave.

"I see my leadership style as giving everything, every day. Every training session, every game. I'm capable of this until the end of the season. But not beyond it. That's why I decided to stop."