Bayern squad 'split' over Nagelsmann sacking with 7 players in the 'out' camp

All is not well at Bayern Munich with reports the squad are split over the club's decision to sack Julian Nagelsmann.

The 35-year-old was ruthlessly sacked on Friday despite being just one point off the top of the Bundesliga table, and winning all eight of their Champions League matches this term.

Thomas Tuchel was then unveiled as Bayern's new manager one day later, following reports that the club had already agreed a deal with the ex-Chelsea boss before Nagelsmann was officially given the boot.

Reports though suggest the decision could do more harm than good, with claims from German publication BILD that there are 'pro and anti-Nagelsmann factions' that have been formed inside the dressing room.

It's said that there were seven players who wanted Nagelsmann out of Bayern Munich, though a number of key figures backed the German.

Manuel Neuer and Sven Ulreich were reportedly against Nagelsmann due to the dismissal of goalkeeping coach Tony Tapalovic after almost 12 years at the club.

Speaking last month, Neuer said that his 'heart was ripped open' after hearing the news about Tapalovic - who was his former team-mate at Schalke and also the best man at his wedding.

Also against Nagelsmann were said to be Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala, Joao Cancelo and summer signing Sadio Mane.

Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka were reportedly Nagelsmann's biggest supporters in the dressing room, with players including Matthijs De Ligt, Dayot Upamecano and Benjamin Pavard also fans.

The one player in the middle of the split is Thomas Muller who BILD reported to be 'neutral' over how he felt about Nagelsmann.

Nagelsmann was on a skiing trip in the Austrian Zillertal, enjoying the international break with his 30-year-old girlfriend Lena Wurzenberger, when he learned of his imminent sacking.

He raced back to Bavaria after cutting short his skiing holiday, where he then discovered his fate.

With Bayern still in the title race and the Champions League, having comprehensively beaten Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 on aggregate to advance to the quarter-finals this month, Nagelsmann's departure came as a major shock.

CEO Oliver Kahn said later: 'When we signed Julian Nagelsmann for FC Bayern in the summer of 2021, we were convinced we would work with him on a long-term basis - and that was the goal of all of us right up to the end.

'Julian shares our aspiration to play successful and attractive football. But now we have come to the conclusion that the quality in our squad - despite the Bundesliga title last year - has come to the fore less and less often.

'After the World Cup we have played less successfully and less attractively. The big fluctuations in performance have cast doubt on our goals for this season, but also our goals for the future. That is why we have acted now.

'Personally and on behalf of FC Bayern, I would like to thank Julian and his coaching team, and wish everyone the best of luck for the future.'

During his time in charge of the German outfit, the young coach claimed one Bundesliga title and two DFL Supercup trophies.

According to German outlet BILD, Bayern Munich could be forced to pay an overall package worth 70million euros (£62m) after axing Nagelsmann, with figures estimating the head coach is earning approximately nine million euros (£8m) every year.