DPA/Berlin

It was not without irony that newly hired youngster Joshua Kimmich jumped the gun when he expressed regret about the departure of Bastian Schweinsteiger from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
Kimmich’s fateful statement - “It’s a pity that he is leaving” - came at a news conference Saturday before club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge made the official announcement that the Germany captain will be leaving after 17 years for Manchester United.
The 20-year-old Kimmich comes to Munich from second division RB Leipzig as the latest addition to a star-studded midfield.
It remains to be seen how much playing time coach Pep Guardiola will be giving him, and there are suggestions that Schweinsteiger had similar fears which could have contributed to his decision to leave.
The departure of the Bavarian Schweinsteiger after a record-tying eight Bundesliga titles, a record seven German cups and the historic treble in 2013 did not go down well with fans as Rummenigge was jeered when he made the announcement again to the 68,000 who had come to attend the team presentation.
Rummenigge insisted that Schweinsteiger had not “fled” from Guardiola but rather because he wanted a new challenge in the dusk of his career which also includes the 2014 World Cup title.
“I regret it. We tried to convince him to stay with Bayern, but I can also understand a player seeking to gain new experience at the end of his career,” Rummenigge said.
Schweinsteiger is among several Munich players whose career is winding down, with captain Philipp Lahm, wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben and midfielder Xabi Alonso among others beyond 30.
Apart from Kimmich, Munich on Saturday also officially presented a new Brazilian in Douglas Costa who can replace Ribery and Robben on either wing.
Alonso has been the main man for Guardiola in defensive midfield which is also Schweinsteiger’s territory. Lahm can also play there, or Javi Martinez, and possibly Kimmich.
Schweinsteiger’s departure heralds a slow start of a necessary rebuilding process - but there are plenty of question marks because Guardiola is yet to say whether he will stay or leave when his three-year deal expires after the next season.
“The current team faces a final joint season ... The approaching rebuilding can already be felt,” the Sueddeutsche Zeitung said Friday in an editorial.
“Bayern would very much love to renew the contract with Pep Guardiola. The coach meanwhile leaves it very open whether he can imagine that as well. Instead of insisting on the strength of the club which does not act upon the wishes of an individual Bayern are doing the opposite: They are making themselves dependent of a coach in their plans like rarely before.”
Munich could face sudden changes on various fronts in 12 months time, with the danger of risking further success.