Former Bayern Munich defender Christian Lell claims the club has excluded him. The 42-year-old says he received a phone call from the executive office instructing him not to wear the Bayern jersey in future.
Lell, who joined the youth academy in 1993 and played for the first team until 2010, published his book 'From Ego to Heart' in September. The original cover featured him in Bayern kit. His publisher, however, received a letter from FC Bayern requesting the removal of the jersey. Lell reported a call from the club's leadership. He was told he would no longer be welcome in the Bayern jersey and should refrain from wearing the shirt in the future.
The double-winner said he does not understand the decision. His heart remains connected to the club, which he describes as a home, childhood, refuge and safe harbour. His criticism is not aimed at honorary president Uli Hoeneß or supervisory board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, but at other current officials he calls Easter bunnies. They cannot take away his Bayern identity, Lell stated.
The first-team squad is meanwhile preparing for an away fixture. The last five matches yielded two wins, one draw and two defeats. The last big win came against Union Berlin, in which Michael Olise scored a hat-trick. Lell's book cover now shows him in a plain white T-shirt.
The original report is at Bild
