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TEAM BASTI

Jose Mourinho’s treatment of Bastian Schweinsteiger labelled disrespectful and perverse by Arsenal and Manchester City stars Per Mertesacker and Ilkay Gundogan

Germany internationals are unhappy with the way Manchester United have exiled the Bayern Munich legend

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JOSE MOURINHO has been labelled “disrespectful” and “perverse” for his treatment of Germany icon Bastian Schweinsteiger by rivals at Manchester City and Arsenal.

Ilkay Gundogan, a summer arrival at the Etihad, and the Gunners’ lanky centre-back Per Mertesacker have both taken aim at the Manchester United boss for relegating the Bayern Munich legend from his Premier League squad and throwing his career on the scrapheap.

 Bastian Schweinsteiger has been dropped dramatically by Jose Mourinho
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Bastian Schweinsteiger has been dropped dramatically by Jose MourinhoCredit: Getty Images
 Schweinsteiger's Germany team-mates have come to his defence
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Schweinsteiger's Germany team-mates have come to his defenceCredit: Getty Images
 Schweinsteiger and Gundogan were rivals in Germany but are friends
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Schweinsteiger and Gundogan were rivals in Germany but are friendsCredit: Reuters

Schweinsteiger retired from international duty in the summer, to protect his Old Trafford form under Jose Mourinho, but the Portuguese has exiled him from his squad and tried to force him out of the club.

Germany have met up for the international break this week and the midfielder's treatment at the hands of Mourinho is a hot topic.

Pep Guardiola’s key midfield man, Gundogan, told Bild: “I believe that Manchester United could 100 percent benefit from a fit Bastian Schweinsteiger.

“If everything you hear and read is true, you can consider it disrespectful.

“He's not just some player, and also not only 18 or 19.

"We should be thankful that we had such a great player."

 Jose Mourinho has been ruthless with the Germany hero
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Jose Mourinho has been ruthless with the Germany heroCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Bastian Schweinsteiger has sent a message to United fans
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Bastian Schweinsteiger has sent a message to United fans

And Mertesacker added his backing to the 32-year-old’s lost-looking cause, although the Emirates skipper is well aware that the massive £200,000-a-week wage Schweini is sitting pretty on until 2018 makes it hard for the common man to sympathise.

The Gunners defender told Kicker: “It's bad luck for him that he joined a club that has again changed its manager, and that the new manager does not want him

“It can happen to you at any time in this business, and it's a bit perverse, but Basti signed a good contract, and he knew where he was going.

“He just had bad luck with the way it worked out. He will draw his conclusions and I wish him all the best.”

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