FILE: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - Bayern Munich agrees to transfer England midfielder Owen Hargreaves to Manchester United

Bayern Munich have agreed that England midfielder Owen Hargreaves can move to Manchester United, the German club announced on Sunday (May 20). The club did not specify the transfer feee, but said it was in the region of media reports suggesting 25 million euros (33.75 million U.S. dollars). If confirmed, it would be the highest fee ever for a Bundesliga player. The Canada-born Hargreaves, aged 26, has been pleading with Bayern executives to let him go to United all season in a disappointing year both for him and the club; Bayern finished fourth in the Bundesliga and without any silverware after back-to-back league and Cup doubles. Bayern had previously rejected United's efforts to acquire Hargreaves before the season and during the mid-season transfer window, saying they were not a bank and they needed him. Hargreaves played in only nine of 34 Bundesliga matches this season; five out of 10 games in the Champions League; and one of three German Cup matches. He never scored a goal. Former Bayern coach Felix Magath had hoped Hargreaves could fill the big gap left by Michael Ballack, who went to Chelsea after the end of last season. But Hargreaves did not come close, even before breaking his left fibula on September 17 and missing much of the season. German media reports said that Hargreaves will sign a four-year agreement at United worth seven million euros (9.45 million U.S. dollars) per year. Hargreaves is the fifth confirmed Bayern departure after the season that ended on Saturday. Mehmet Scholl retired, Hasan Salihamidzic will transfer to Juventus while Ali Karimi and Claudio Pizarro will also be leaving -- to destinations still not known. Hargreaves was outstanding in England's World Cup quarter-final last year against Portugal, lost on penalties. In England, he won the fans' vote as England Player of the Year 2006. x

ITN Source | May 21, 2007

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