Whitecaps Coach Reveals Truth Behind Thomas Muller Signing: 'I Didn't Persuade Him'

Thomas Müller’s arrival at Vancouver Whitecaps this season came as a surprise to many, especially after earlier reports linked the German legend to MLS clubs like FC Cincinnati and LAFC. 

Despite the complex MLS rules around player rights and a tug-of-war involving multiple teams, Vancouver managed to sign Müller without much persuasion, as per Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sørensen.

Speaking to the media about the signing, Sørensen was clear about his approach with the 34-year-old midfielder:

“What was important to me was not to try to sell him anything,” Sørensen said. “Because I think Thomas Müller, we all know him as a champion on the pitch but we also know that throughout his career he’s also actually been a champion outside the pitch. His behavior and the way he’s been handling himself and also his smartness and his IQ.”

He continued, “I didn’t want to try to persuade him and sell him anything. It was more speaking to what he could expect and what I expected from him and how he could play for us, how he could be a great player for us. That was mostly what we were talking about.”