Claudio Pizarro returns to Bayern Munich
Peru striker Claudio Pizarro is returning to Bayern Munich on a free transfer after a five-year absence.
Peru striker Claudio Pizarro is returning to Bayern Munich on a free transfer after a five-year absence.
Bayern, the Bundesliga and European runner-up, announced on Saturday that the 33-year-old Pizarro signed a one-year deal, after he refused German rival Werder Bremen's offer of a contract extension.
Bayern sporting director Christian Nerlinger said it was "very happy" with the transfer for "an internationally experienced and very dangerous striker."
Nerlinger and Pizarro were in Madrid for the Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao on Friday, when the deal was completed.
Pizarro is the highest scoring foreign player in Bundesliga history with 160 goals in 333 appearances. He scored 71 times in 174 league games for Bayern from 2001-07.
He also played for Chelsea and had two spells at Bremen, becoming the northern club's fourth all-time top-scorer with 89 goals.
Pizarro will be expected to fill the gap left by Croatian striker Ivica Olic, who left for Wolfsburg, and put pressure on Germany international Mario Gomez, the Bavarian side's' preferred striker.
He becomes Bayern's fourth signing in the offseason, following the arrivals of winger Xherdan Shaqiri from FC Basel, goalkeeper Tom Starke from Hoffenheim and defender Dante from Borussia Moenchengladbach.