The Belgian spent much of the season sitting on the bench and was never able to force his way into Klinsmann's plans, despite being given plenty of positive feedback.

He may well profit from the departure of Lucio to Inter Milan to become a first-team regular under new Bayern coach Louis van Gaal this season, but he said he had "never experienced" the way he was treated by the Dutchman's predecessor.

"The coach (Klinsmann) spoke with me a lot, but with hindsight I have the feeling that he did not always tell me the truth," he said at a press conference.

"Last season, there were a few problems which I couldn't really understand."

The 31-year-old was clear that his exclusion from the squad for the Champions League quarter-final tie with Barcelona had been the lowest ebb of his year under Klinsmann.

"That was hard to swallow," he added. "I have never experienced anything like that."

A knee injury picked up in training on Friday may have set van Buyten back in his battle to prove van Gaal that he should be given a place at the heart of his defence next season.

The Belgian faces competition from Martin Demichelis, Breno and youngster Holger Badstuber, who are all vying for two places in the centre of a back four.