Giefer turned down Bayern Munich

Fortuna Duesseldorf goalkeeper Fabian Giefer says he turned down the chance to join Bayern Munich ahead of the 2012/13 campaign.

The Bavarians saw the 22-year-old shot-stopper as the ideal back-up for first-choice ‘keeper Manuel Neuer.

But Giefer eventually opted to leave Bayer Leverkusen for Duesseldorf instead as he wanted regular first-team action.

“When you are in your early 20s and have certain career objectives, you prefer to take another direction and take some risks,” Giefer told TZ.

“That’s why I opted to reject Bayern.

“So I gave head coach Jupp Heynckes a call and told him that I had made the decision to go elsewhere instead.”

Giefer has made 17 Bundesliga appearances so far this term, keeping seven clean sheets.