Schalke 04 midfielder Leon Goretzka: 'Moving to Bayern Munich is right step'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 23 March 2018

Midfielder Leon Goretzka says that leaving Schalke 04 to move to Bayern Munich is the "right step" for him at this stage of his career.

Midfielder Leon Goretzka has said that one of the main factors behind joining Bayern Munich was the club's ambition to win the Champions League.

Earlier this year, Goretzka revealed that he had turned down a new contract at Schalke 04 and alleged interest from the Premier League to sign for Bayern at the end of his existing deal at the Veltins-Arena.

Goretzka has competed in European competition with Schalke, but the Germany international has admitted that he wanted to play for a team who were contenders to emerge victorious in the Champions League.

The 23-year-old told Funke Sport: "I've come to the conclusion that this is right step now. The Champions League also plays a big role in my decision. Bayern start with different expectations in the Champions League, with Schalke we are always focusing on surviving the group stages.

"It was a long decision-making process, I spent a lot of time on it, and I was well prepared for the situation."

Bayern have not won the Champions League since 2013.