Müller is the essential local hero, an Identifikationsfigur, brought up just outside Munich in the community of Pähl. But at the same time, this wonderfully off-the-cuff footballer possesses an almost universal platform and appeal.

In his final game at the Allianz Arena, Thomas Müller celebrates winning his 13th Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich.

If he was to take Gosen’s advice, Müller would be following in the footsteps of Bayern legend Franck Ribery, who joined Fiorentina in the summer of 2019 after 12 years in Munich, having scored a memorable goal in the final match of the season against Eintracht Frankfurt that helped Bayern secure the Bundesliga title.