Bastian Schweinsteiger's relationship with Louis van Gaal could pave the way for the midfielder to join Manchester United this summer, according to former Bayern Munich striker Roy Makaay.
Van Gaal worked with Schweinsteiger during the Dutchman's spell at Bayern, with the club winning the 2009-10 Bundesliga and DFB Pokal.
Schweinsteiger is a long-standing target for United and started just 15 Bundesliga games under Pep Guardiola in an injury hit campaign last season.
And Makaay says it would be no surprise if the 30-year-old - who has one year remaining on his contract - decided to join his former manager at Old Trafford.
"He’s an amazing player, a world champion," Makaay told Goal. "If you saw him at the World Cup final he was bleeding everywhere but he came back on the pitch.
"He and van Gaal had a good relationship so it wouldn’t surprise me [if he joined United]. I hope he stays at Bayern. He’s a kid from the club and he has to stay there. But if he decides to move it wouldn’t be a surprise if he changed to Man United knowing the good relationship he has with the manager.
"When you listen to Van Gaal, there were players he had a good relationship with. Thomas Muller [is one], but he was quite clear and said 'I’m going to stay at Bayern' and Schweinsteiger, I don’t know what’s going to happen.
"I know they had a good relationship so if he decides to change it wouldn’t be a big surprise if he changes for here. When we speak about experience, he has that experience. But I hope he stays at Bayern because he is still important for Bayern.
"He’s been playing there for 18 years, starting from the youth so that’s why I hope he stays there and he finishes his career at Bayern because he’s still an important asset.
"He still has a year on his contract left but it will be a big blow for the fans if he leaves because he’s the No.1 there. [Arjen] Robben and [Franck] Ribery are very popular but Schweinsteiger is the most because he started [at Bayern] from a young age until now."
Van Gaal worked with Schweinsteiger during the Dutchman's spell at Bayern, with the club winning the 2009-10 Bundesliga and DFB Pokal.
Schweinsteiger is a long-standing target for United and started just 15 Bundesliga games under Pep Guardiola in an injury hit campaign last season.
And Makaay says it would be no surprise if the 30-year-old - who has one year remaining on his contract - decided to join his former manager at Old Trafford.
"He’s an amazing player, a world champion," Makaay told Goal. "If you saw him at the World Cup final he was bleeding everywhere but he came back on the pitch.
"He and van Gaal had a good relationship so it wouldn’t surprise me [if he joined United]. I hope he stays at Bayern. He’s a kid from the club and he has to stay there. But if he decides to move it wouldn’t be a surprise if he changed to Man United knowing the good relationship he has with the manager.
"When you listen to Van Gaal, there were players he had a good relationship with. Thomas Muller [is one], but he was quite clear and said 'I’m going to stay at Bayern' and Schweinsteiger, I don’t know what’s going to happen.
"I know they had a good relationship so if he decides to change it wouldn’t be a big surprise if he changes for here. When we speak about experience, he has that experience. But I hope he stays at Bayern because he is still important for Bayern.
"He’s been playing there for 18 years, starting from the youth so that’s why I hope he stays there and he finishes his career at Bayern because he’s still an important asset.
"He still has a year on his contract left but it will be a big blow for the fans if he leaves because he’s the No.1 there. [Arjen] Robben and [Franck] Ribery are very popular but Schweinsteiger is the most because he started [at Bayern] from a young age until now."