Joao Palhinha has revealed he asked Bernd Leno about Bayern Munich before signing for the Bavarians.

Bayern Munich’s Portuguese midfielder Joao Palhinha has revealed he held talks with German goalkeeper Bernd Leno before deciding to join the Bavarians this summer, Sport Ufabet reported on Saturday.

Palhinha’s joined Bayern Munich from Fulham this summer for €51m plus €5m in add-ons after a move to Munich last summer fell through.

‘I just enjoy it. It wasn’t an easy road until I finally got to Munich. Now it feels good and I think we can achieve a lot this season,’ Palhinha said.

Palhinha also revealed that he had spoken to Fulham team-mate Leno to ask about the Bavarian giants, saying: ‘I have a great team-mate and friend at Fulham in Bernd Leno. He tells me good things about FC Bayern, as do everyone I talk to about the club.’

It has been a long time since the name Bernd Leno has been relevant for a Bundesliga club. The German goalkeeper grew up in Stuttgart but most Bundesliga fans know him as Bayer Leverkusen’s No.1, who he switched to in 2011. However, in 2018 the bright lights of the Premier League called him. He first left to go to Arsenal FC and then later ended up at Fulham.

Leno is not directly linked with Bayern Munich, ยูฟ่าเบท but the 32-year-old has faced the Bavarians on several occasions during his time at Leverkusen between 2011 and 2018, before moving to Arsenal and then joining Fulham alongside Palhinha in the summer of 2022.