[Locke]

Thomas Muller, what a guy!

"Harry Knodlseder, our president, called me and said 'a player from Bayern is coming!'" Joe Ritzer, the supporters club's treasurer, tells ESPN FC. "I told him I didn't believe him. He said 'OK, well listen -- it's number 25', then he hung up. My mind had gone blank so I went straight to the Bayern website, looked through all the positions, and then... 'Oh f***, it's Muller!' That was three weeks ago and since then I've not been able to think of anything else."

The Hauzenberg club had benefited from a tradition that Bayern have followed for three decades. Every November, a random draw is made among Bayern's 3000-some Germany-based fan clubs and others from conveniently situated locations in neighbouring countries.

Each of the 30 winners receives a visit from one of Bayern's first-team squad, coaching staff or board, and the club in question may host the player as they see fit. Although clubs at all levels actively organize supporter events at this time of year, few have made long-standing commitments on this scale.

This time around, for example, Robert Lewandowski could be found in the village of Thalmassing, while Philipp Lahm was 60 miles away in Plattling and Bayern manager Pep Guardiola visited the small town of Vilsbiburg.

The hall, more used to the routine business of school assemblies, has never been this full and its occupants chant Muller's name upon his entry. On the stage, he settles straightaway into relaxed repartee with Bayernpower Hauzenberg's committee and sips from the glass of beer provided.

There is both hilarity and necessary diplomacy when, during a question and answer session, he is asked: "There are rumours everywhere about you signing for Manchester United and following Schweini [Bastian Schweinsteiger] to the Premier League ... but we all know that Schweini can't run anymore and that's the reason he had to go!"

It is a fast-moving, excitable two and a half hours but at the end of it Muller shares a few thoughts with visiting media. Those Premier League rumours -- he has been linked heavily with United and his old manager, Louis van Gaal -- are put to bed first of all.

"You can never say never, but let's see," he says when asked about a Premier League move. "I don't think the chances are very big."

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