French defender Willy Sagnol's no show at the party to celebrate Bayern Munich's league title has fuelled rumours he is set to quit the German giants.

8 May 2008

MUNICH - French international defender Willy Sagnol's no show at the Allianz Arena party to celebrate Bayern Munich's league title has fuelled rumours he is set to quit the German giants.

After Bayern beat Arminia Bielefeld 2-0 on Wednesday, the club celebrated with a ceremony to honour the team but Sagnol, who was been with the club since 2000, was the only player absent despite not being selected to play.

"Willy trained with intensity earlier in the day, we decided on this ceremony at the last minute, perhaps he did not know," said coach Ottmar Hitzfeld.

Sagnol, whose contract runs till 2010, complained at the start of the year he was not being given enough chances to play after returning from injury.

Hitzfeld then dropped him for the UEFA Cup game in St Petersburg earlier this month for criticising the club in the press.

The 31-year-old Frenchman's season has been reduced to only eight league games due to knee and back injuries, and in the games he played he was booed by Bayern fans.

Sagnol may fare better under Jurgen Klinsmann, who is set to succeed Hitzfeld in July when "The General" leaves to coach the Swiss national team.

[AFP / Expatica]