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Medhi Benatia starts team training with Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich defender Medhi Benatia has started team training with his new club, although Xabi Alonso and Arjen Robben remain doubts for Saturday's match against Stuttgart.

- Bayern chief backs Ribery over Platini threat

Benatia, who joined from Roma for 26 million euros last month, sat out Bayern's previous game at Schalke due to a muscle tear in his calf, but could be set to make his debut this weekend.

The Morocco international spent last week working away from his teammates, before training with the squad for the first time on Monday

The centre-back has caused controversy off the pitch in recent days due to his exchange of words with his former club's president. James Palotta has branded him a liar for suggesting he only left the Giallorossi because they wanted to cash in on him.

Benatia was also joined in training by fellow defender Holger Badstuber, who sat out last week's sessions due to muscular problems.

However, Alonso and Robben continued their individual programmes and remain a doubt for the Stuttgart clash, according to Bayern's official website.

Elsewhere, Bayern president Karl Hopfner has been elected as the new supervisory board chairman. The 62-year-old succeeds adidas CEO Herbert Hainer, who had taken over from the imprisoned Uli Hoeness earlier this year.

Hainer, a member of the board since its foundation, becomes Karl Hopfner's senior deputy, Bayern announced.

"Thanks to his long years of experience as a senior manager, Herbert Hainer has been a great support, especially in the last few difficult months," Hopfner, who succeeded Hoeness as Bayern president in May, said in an official statement.