Manchester United transfer news: Bastian Schweinsteiger treatment could affect future deals, warns Bayern chief

The Germany international has been deemed surplus to requirements by Jose Mourinho

Schweinsteiger struggled for fitness and form during his first season at Old Trafford (Getty)

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has warned Manchester United that their treatment of Bastian Schweinsteiger could dissuade players from joining the club in the future.

Schweinsteiger is surplus to requirements at Old Trafford after Jose Mourinho decided to leave him out of his first-team squad for the coming season.

The 32-year-old midfielder has been left to train with the reserves and Rummenigge, chief executive of Schweinsteiger’s former club Bayern Munich, was surprised by the demotion.

“I could hardly believe it,” Rummenigge told Bild. “One or two players are going to think long and hard in future about whether they want to go to such a club.

“Nothing like that has ever happened at Bayern Munich,” he added.

Rummenigge appeared to offer Schweinsteiger an escape route out of Old Trafford on Tuesday when admitting that the midfielder would be welcomed back at Bayern.

"Should he [Schweinsteiger] speak in the future at some point about a desire to return, then we will discuss it with him," he said.

Schweinsteiger spent a total of 17 years at Bayern, graduating through the club's youth ranks and making his first senior appearance in 2002.

The Germany international and World Cup winner was signed by Louis van Gaal, Mourinho’s predecessor at Old Trafford, last summer, but struggled for both fitness and form during his debut campaign.

Schweinsteiger made only four appearances after suffering a knee injury in early January and his absence from the club during his rehabilitation period led some of his teammates to believe that he was afforded "special treatment" by Van Gaal.