Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng has revealed that Barcelona made attempts to sign him last year, saying he wants to stay with the Bundesliga champions for years to come.
Boateng, 26, returned to German football in 2011 after a year at Manchester City and has become a key component of the Bayern back line.
He signed a contract extension until 2018 in December and explained that Barcelona had tried to lure him to La Liga in the summer.
He told Sport Bild: "I don't know how much they bid for me in detail, but it's true that there was an enquiry.
"When a club like Barcelona show interest, it's obviously a huge honour. But I never really considered it -- we were already in preseason at Bayern.
"These days, you don't need to join Barcelona from Bayern if you want to win the Champions League."
Boateng, who has featured in 96 Bundesliga games for Bayern, added: "I play at one of the top four clubs in the world.
"I'd be delighted to continue my career at the club for a long time and, some day, retire here with many more titles in the bag."