Former Bayern Munich striker Giovane Elber has suggested that Mario Gotze is unhappy at the club because of a poor relationship with manager Pep Guardiola.
The Germany midfielder moved to the Allianz Arena from Borussia Dortmund in a deal believed to be worth £32m.
Elber, though, has said that Gotze has failed to produce his best football with the Bavarian outfit and Guardiola could be to blame.
"There is a huge difference between how he played for Dortmund and how he plays for Bayern," Elber told AZ. "You play different when you feel happy somewhere. Everything seems to go automatically then.
"When you are unhappy somewhere, you put too much thought into everything you do. And things simply don't work out then. "I don't know how his relationship with Pep Guardiola is, but Gotze looks a bit like a Brazilian to me.
"You have to flatter him and boost his confidence. You have to tell him that you are there for him to help him. It is hard when there are already doubts before the season has even started. Bayern should back him rather than sell him."
Gotze has scored 28 goals in 88 appearances for Bayern.
Steven Toplis
