Thomas Müller Speaks Out on Cristiano Ronaldo's Rumored Bayern Munich Move

Bayern Munich star questions Ronaldo's on-field body language despite praising his off-field reputation

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Thomas Müller has raised eyebrows with his comments on Cristiano Ronaldo's rumored move to Bayern Munich in 2022. While Müller praised Ronaldo's reputation as a strong teammate off the pitch, the German legend admitted he found the Portuguese star's body language on the field 'rather questionable'. Müller acknowledged Ronaldo could have been a great sporting addition, but noted the transfer's viability would depend heavily on the manager's tactical demands, which may not have aligned with Ronaldo's playing style.

Why it matters

Ronaldo's potential move to Bayern Munich generated significant interest and speculation in the soccer world. Müller's comments provide an insider's perspective on how the transfer could have impacted the team's dynamics and playing style under manager Vincent Kompany's system.

The details

According to reports, Cristiano Ronaldo was close to joining Bayern Munich after leaving Manchester United in 2022. However, the transfer ultimately fell through. In a recent interview, Bayern's Thomas Müller praised Ronaldo's off-field reputation as a good teammate, but expressed doubts about his on-field body language. Müller noted that Ronaldo could have been a good sporting fit, but said the transfer's viability would depend heavily on the manager's tactical demands, which may not have aligned with Ronaldo's playing style under Kompany's system that requires relentless work in both directions from all players.

  • Ronaldo left Manchester United in November 2022.
  • Ronaldo was rumored to be close to a move to Bayern Munich in 2022.
  • Ronaldo instead joined Al Nassr in December 2022 on a record-setting $700 million deal.
  • In 2025, Ronaldo signed a new two-year deal with Al Nassr, extending his contract until 2027.

The players

Thomas Müller

A German professional soccer player who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich.

Cristiano Ronaldo

A Portuguese professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.

Vincent Kompany

A Belgian professional soccer manager who is the current head coach of Bundesliga club Bayern Munich.

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What they’re saying

“I've heard that Cristiano is a very good teammate off the pitch. On the pitch, however, I found his body language rather questionable.”

— Thomas Müller, Bayern Munich Player (One Football)

“Ronaldo at Bayern could have worked from a sporting perspective. Let's put it this way: under Kompany's style, it probably wouldn't have worked, because all eleven players had to work in both directions for each other.”

— Thomas Müller, Bayern Munich Player (One Football)

The takeaway

Müller's comments highlight the complex dynamics that can arise when integrating a star player like Ronaldo into a team with a specific tactical identity. While Ronaldo's individual talent may have been an asset, his playing style and on-field demeanor could have clashed with the demands of Kompany's system at Bayern Munich.