Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 8y

Bayern Munich's Mario Gotze pledges to 'be in top shape' for Ancelotti

Mario Gotze has moved to end speculation about his Bayern Munich future by announcing his intention to stay with the Bundesliga giants next season.

Gotze had been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool in the summer transfer window after falling out of favour under Pep Guardiola, while his former club Borussia Dortmund have said they would be open to a deal and have, according to kicker, recently stepped up their interest.

Germany boss Joachim Low had suggested in recent days that a move may be in Gotze's best interests, but the 23-year-old told Bild on Monday that he wants to stay at the Allianz Arena and fight for his place under incoming head coach Carlo Ancelotti.

"I look forward to the new season in Munich and will do everything possible to be in top shape for my first training session under Carlo Ancelotti," Gotze said.

Gotze confirmed last week that he had held talks with Ancelotti and played down suggestions the former Real Madrid coach had advised him to seek a new club.

The attacking midfielder's comments come after Gotze ended his partnership with the Sports Total agency, which also represents players including Toni Kroos and Marco Reus.

Sports Total CEO Volker Struth announced on the agency's official website: "After extensive consideration and talks in the past weeks we came to the mutual decision to end our cooperation."

Gotze added that the partnership "shaped my career decisively."

According to kicker, Gotze's new agent is Munich-based Prof. Dr. Peter Duvinage, who also represents Bayern defender Holger Badstuber.

Gotze is under contract at Bayern Munich until 2017, having not renewed his contract since arriving from Dortmund in 2013.

Following a difficult season, which saw him sidelined from October to February and then struggle to return to the starting XI, the player has so far not been offered a new contract by the Bavarians.

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