Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich has refused to rule out a move to Barcelona amid continued speculation the Catalans would like to sign him.
Kimmich’s future has been the subject of much talk, as the Germany star is into the final 12 months of his existing deal.
Asking about his future ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Barcelona, Kimmich had some interesting comments.
“In football, one can never make the mistake of ruling out possibilities. Now, to answer directly, I’m not thinking about it at the moment, but in football you should never rule anything out,” he told reporters.
“It’s certainly strange to play against them. It’s a special moment, it’s always special to play against Barça. We’ve played against them quite a few times in recent years. It’ll be interesting to meet up with Hansi again, and we’re looking forward to it.
“As I’ve just said, playing against Barça is always something very special. I’ve been linked with Barça on several occasions, but it’s not any more special for that reason. It’s special because it’s a very important club, with a very rich and successful tradition, and a very good team.”
Kimmich then went on to speak glowingly about former bosses Xavi Hernandez and Pep Guardiola.
“Barça left its mark on me, and Spain too. They won three major tournaments in a row, and, above all, Xavi Hernández, when I was little, was my idol,” he added.
“I always loved watching his games. Then, Pep Guardiola, with tiki-taka, was like a small revolution, because of how they managed to dominate their rivals. To this day, he is an example to follow for many clubs, I think.”
It’s not clear where Kimmich will go if he does leave Bayern on a free transfer or if Barca will make a move, particularly with Marc Casado currently impressing in the first team.