I'd always be Lewandowski's back-up – Bayern move a non-starter for Modeste

Anthony Modeste is open to returning to the Bundesliga after departing Cologne for China, but Bayern Munich would not be of interest to him.

Published : Nov 12, 2017 22:30 IST

Anthony Modeste excelled during his two years at Cologne, scoring 40 league goals in 68 games before securing a lucrative move to the Chinese Super League.
Anthony Modeste excelled during his two years at Cologne, scoring 40 league goals in 68 games before securing a lucrative move to the Chinese Super League.
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Anthony Modeste excelled during his two years at Cologne, scoring 40 league goals in 68 games before securing a lucrative move to the Chinese Super League.

Tianjin Quanjian striker Anthony Modeste is open to a return to Bundesliga but has no interest in playing back-up to Robert Lewandowski at Bayern Munich.

The Frenchman excelled during his two years at Cologne, scoring 40 league goals in 68 games before securing a lucrative move to the Chinese Super League.

Modeste cost Tianjin a reported £31million when he moved in July and, although he has seven goals in eight league appearances in China, he was not shy to acknowledge that he is missing Germany.

Only a handful of Bundesliga clubs would be able to afford the 29-year-old these days and when a move to Bayern was put to him, he was quick to rule out such a transfer.

"I'm not someone who sits on the bench behind Lewandowski," he told Express . "You can train as well as you want, you are always his replacement.

"I am 29 years old and have no time to lose. Although I would be German champion with Bayern, I would not like it.

"A footballer always wants to play. Even now, when I am in Cologne for two months in the Chinese seasonal break, I would of course like to go to the Geissbockheim [Cologne's training ground] and work with the boys and play football."

 

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