We were priced out of Ruud race: Bayern

Bayern Munich have admitted they were unable to afford the asking price for Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The Holland international was this weekend unveiled as a Real Madrid player after falling out with Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.

“If we had offered what Man United wanted, then we would have had the player,” said general manager Uli Hoeness who revealed the 30-year-old on Friday evening told him personally of his decision.

“I thought that was a nice gesture,” added Hoeness who was speaking in Tokyo. “He thanked me and said it was a very difficult decision, but he didn’t have the strength to say: ‘No, I want to go to Bayern’.”

Hoeness admitted the Bavarian club had upped their offer, but were not willing to go any further when Real came in with a counter-bid.

“We would have had to do things that betray the philosophy of FC Bayern,” he added. “I was annoyed for a day, but then I told myself life goes on.”