Thomas Muller would have joined Robert Lewandowski and Hansi Flick at Barcelona before Vancouver Whitecaps move as veteran forward considered options ahead of Bayern Munich exit

Muller completed a much-anticipated summer switch to MLS in the summer, having spent his entire life at Bayern Munich. Indeed, the veteran forward joined the Bavarian giants' youth academy in 2000 at the age of 10. In 2008, he made his first team debut and in the 2009-10 season, he was promoted to the senior squad by the then-manager Louis van Gaal. The move paid off, as he scored 19 goals in 52 games. He continued his incredible exploits for the record Bundesliga champions until the end of the 2024-25 season. The former German international left the club after scoring 250 goals in a club record 756 appearances. 

His move to North America was not a big surprise. Muller had lost his status as an undisputed presence in the starting XI due to the emergence of Jamal Musiala. Additionally, he was also about to turn 36. 

"The overall package just worked," Muller shared in his monthly newsletter in August. "From a sporting perspective, we are in contention for the title and are currently in second place in the Western Conference. The discussions with managing director Axel Schuster and coach Jesper Sorensen were really good from the start, I noticed they know where they want to go. Clear words, as you know, I've always liked that."

He further added that leaving Europe to join the MLS didn't "feel as strange as you might think," stating that he had "known about his situation since March."

It could all have played out entirely differently had one of Muller's former coaches intervened. Indeed, in a recent interview with Blickpunkt Sport, the 36-year-old revealed that he could have joined Barcelona. Muller enjoyed his matchups with the Catalan giants, both individually and collectively. He featured in 10 games against Barca, ending up on the winning side eight times and losing just twice. In fact, he also found the back of the net eight times while producing two assists, too. Muller enjoyed more wins against Barcelona than against any other non-German side.

"I could have imagined a future at Barcelona, yes," admitted Muller. "If Hansi Flick, who knows me very well, had called me and I had liked the project at Barcelona, I could have imagined something like this. It's a top-level club where you know what people expect from you."

Muller spent two seasons under the tutelage of Flick. In the first season, Die Roten were simply magnificent. They won the continental treble, wreaking havoc in Germany in addition to winning all 13 games in the Champions League. Flick's first season at the Allianz Arena was the epitome of ruthless dominance. 

After Flick left Bayern in the summer of 2021, he took over the reins of the German national team. The association between Muller and the current Barca coach was far less fruitful, though, as the latter registered a below-average win percentage of 48. 

The legendary former Germany and Bayern attacking midfielder has had a positive impact on his new side, helping them clinch the Canadian Championship. In the final, he scored once and delivered an assist, showcasing that he still remains capable of influencing the outcome of the biggest games at the biggest stages. In all, Muller has scored eight goals in as many games, recording a direct goal contribution every 68 minutes. His first few months in Canada have been dreamy. Not only has the iconic midfielder completed 300 career goals, but has also overtaken Toni Kroos as the German footballer with the most titles in football history with 35. 

Bayern legend and supervisory board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge recently confessed that "it is the wish of the fans and the club that former players take on a leadership role at Bayern Munich." In what was a cheeky response, Muller joked that "the path has already been mapped out" for his post-playing endeavours. 

However, Muller is unsure whether he wants to continue working within the football fraternity after calling it a day. "That's a long shot," clarified Muller when asked if he had given thought to what he wants to become once he quits being a footballer. "I'm aware of that. I know my skillset. But even so, I still have no idea whether I could be a good coach and want to be a good coach. And whether I could be a good sports official and want to be a good sports official."

For now, Muller remains focused on his objectives in Vancouver. He remains tied to the club until December 31, 2025, with an option to extend the deal for another year as a Designated Player.