Thomas Muller to Manchester United: Bayern Munich admit they turned down huge offer for German forward over the summer

Muller was also linked to Real Madrid

(Getty Images)

Bayern Munich president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed that the Bundesliga champions turned down a very large bid for German forward Thomas Muller over the summer.

Rummenigge did not reveal where the bid came from, but both Manchester United and Real Madrid were heavily linked with a move for the 25-year-old and admitted that if he was a "bank manager" he would have accepted it.

"I'm talking about figures which were very high indeed," said the Bayern legend. "If I were a bank manager then I would have had to accept it.

"But as a football club we allowed ourselves to close the door on it, and this door is remaining closed. I can promise that to everybody.

"But one thing is for certain, in view of the increased television money in England things are not going to get any easier for Bayern in future."

That influx of money from next season is set to make the Barclays Premier League even more enticing when it comes to signing the top players in future.

However, Rummenigge has praised English clubs for the way they are being run, saying their potential success is not going to be down to money alone but rather how they have invested it.

"I've taken a look at Manchester City's youth academy and all I can say is it doesn't get any better than that," Rummenigge told the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

"I have also visited Tottenham's, Arsenal's and Chelsea's and it's the same wherever you go.

"I can tell you that the English are going all out, also in terms of youth development."

Additional reporting from PA