by Oliver Trust

BERLIN, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Thomas Muller's storied Bayern Munich career appeared to reach its quiet end at the FIFA Club World Cup, with the veteran forward choosing to sidestep farewell fanfare in the wake of teammate Jamal Musiala's devastating injury.

The 35-year-old, who has made 756 appearances in Bayern colors, had hinted in recent days that he was ready to walk away from the only club he's ever known. "When it's over, it is over," Muller had said.

But after a 2-0 quarterfinal loss to Paris Saint-Germain in Atlanta and a horrifying ankle injury to Musiala, Muller downplayed his own future. "It's not the time to talk about my career, not after what happened to Jamal," he said.

Musiala, 22, suffered a fibula fracture and multiple ligament tears just before halftime, a moment Muller described as emotionally destabilizing for the team. "You try to focus on the game, to stay tuned - you can't. We are not robots," he said.

Substituted in the 80th minute, Muller later expressed frustration over speculation regarding his future. "It's tasteless to talk about what comes next for me after such a tragic incident. I hope we stop that discussion," he said when asked whether he would consider extending his career in light of Musiala's long-term absence.

Muller had reportedly hoped to extend his Bayern deal, but the club declined, prompting speculation about a move to Major League Soccer. An offer from Los Angeles FC is said to be on the table, though Muller remains noncommittal. "Everyone can have their thoughts, but I think it's better not to talk about unrealistic possibilities," he said when asked if he might stay on another six months.

Bayern board member Uli Hoeness weighed in on the situation, saying, "I recommend him to stop. But if he wants, he can go on at another club."

Muller has long been seen as the embodiment of Bayern. His playing time, however, has dwindled in recent months, fuelling debate over whether now is the right moment to say goodbye. Despite divided opinions among fans and club officials, Muller has remained diplomatic and introspective.

"I know this was my last game for Bayern," he admitted after the final whistle. "Now I'll see what's in my head in the next few days."

Across his career, Muller won 13 Bundesliga titles and six German Cups with Bayern, scoring 250 goals and providing 283 assists along the way. He is the top German scorer in UEFA Champions League history, with 57 goals in the competition. ■