BAYERN Munich president Franz Beckenbauer has criticised Lukas Podolski for failing to play as well for his club as he does for Germany.
The forward has been persistently linked with a move away from the German champions after becoming unhappy with his lack of first-team opportunities at the Allianz Arena.
And the 23-year-old has also claimed he does not believe he has the support of club chiefs.
But Beckenbauer feels Podolski - who has been one of Germany's most impressive performers at Euro 2008 - would have no problem winning a starting place if he could replicate his international form at club level.
Writing in the Bild newspaper, Beckenbauer said: "When he complains about a lack of faith from the club leadership, I have to say: 'No one at Bayern has banned him from playing as strongly as he has at the Euros.'
"With such a performance he would also be in the starting XI at his club.
"With Poldi I have the feeling that he has grown into two people during the Euros. At Bayern he often ran slightly bent over; at the Euros on the other hand his body language says: Here I am.
"Lukas Podolski and (Bayern team-mate) Bastian Schweinsteiger have played in this tournament like we have unfortunately seldom seen for their club since 2006."
Podolski has struggled to settle at Bayern since joining from Cologne and had to make do with a place on the bench for much of last season after falling behind Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni in the pecking order.
Clubs from England, Italy and Germany are reported to be interested in the striker, including Bayern's Bundesliga rivals Werder Bremen.
Germany defender Per Mertesacker earlier this week encouraged Podolski to join him at the Weserstadion, and now another Bremen player, Sebastian Boenisch, has urged the forward to sign.
He told Bild: "My mother played handball with his mother in the first division, and our fathers played second-division football together.
"My brother Adrian was even together in the sandpit with Lukas."
Bremen sporting director Klaus Allofs added: "It seems to be that Poldi wants out of Munich.
"I am continuing to keep in contact with his agent. He knows what our attitude is. I don't have to now show new interest."
And the 23-year-old has also claimed he does not believe he has the support of club chiefs.
But Beckenbauer feels Podolski - who has been one of Germany's most impressive performers at Euro 2008 - would have no problem winning a starting place if he could replicate his international form at club level.
Writing in the Bild newspaper, Beckenbauer said: "When he complains about a lack of faith from the club leadership, I have to say: 'No one at Bayern has banned him from playing as strongly as he has at the Euros.'
"With such a performance he would also be in the starting XI at his club.
"With Poldi I have the feeling that he has grown into two people during the Euros. At Bayern he often ran slightly bent over; at the Euros on the other hand his body language says: Here I am.
"Lukas Podolski and (Bayern team-mate) Bastian Schweinsteiger have played in this tournament like we have unfortunately seldom seen for their club since 2006."
Podolski has struggled to settle at Bayern since joining from Cologne and had to make do with a place on the bench for much of last season after falling behind Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni in the pecking order.
Clubs from England, Italy and Germany are reported to be interested in the striker, including Bayern's Bundesliga rivals Werder Bremen.
Germany defender Per Mertesacker earlier this week encouraged Podolski to join him at the Weserstadion, and now another Bremen player, Sebastian Boenisch, has urged the forward to sign.
He told Bild: "My mother played handball with his mother in the first division, and our fathers played second-division football together.
"My brother Adrian was even together in the sandpit with Lukas."
Bremen sporting director Klaus Allofs added: "It seems to be that Poldi wants out of Munich.
"I am continuing to keep in contact with his agent. He knows what our attitude is. I don't have to now show new interest."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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