Football
Mark Lovell, Bayern Munich blogger 6y

Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben, Rafinha agree one-year contract extensions

Bayern Munich have agreed with winger Arjen Robben and defender Rafinha on one-year contract extensions through the 2018-19 season, the Bundesliga champions have announced.

Both of their contracts had been set to expire this summer and are expected to be signed in the coming days.

Robben, 34, joined Bayern from Real Madrid in 2009 and has made 189 Bundesliga appearances, winning seven league titles. He scored the winner in the 2013 Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund and has scored 95 goals in his nine seasons.

Rafinha, 32, moved to Bayern in 2011 after one year at Genoa. He has won the Bundesliga title six times and has made 162 league appearances, having previously played five seasons for domestic rivals Schalke.

"We are delighted to renew with these distinguished players for another year," sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said in a statement. "Both Arjen Robben and Rafinha play important roles in our plans for the coming season."

Robben is the first Dutch player to win 11 domestic league titles in his career, surpassing the legendary Johann Cruyff.

"I'm not a stats fan, but Johan Cruyff is still rightly regarded as the greatest footballer in the history of Holland," Robben said. "If you overtake his tally of titles, that's something very special. I'm really proud of that."

Outgoing Bayern manager Jupp Heynckes confirmed Robben will miss the final Bundesliga game of the season at home to Stuttgart.

Robben had to curtail training on Thursday, after suffering a reoccurrence of an adductor injury incurred in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal to Real Madrid.

Fellow veteran Franck Ribery, 35, signed a one-year contract extension earlier this week with Bayern, whose club policy means they only give one-year extensions to players older than 30.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old Franck Evina has signed a professional contract with Bayern until 2021. The Germany youth international has started the previous two Bundesliga games for the German champions.

"It's a great honour for me to be given this chance by Bayern," he said. "I want to continue learning in the next few years and repay the club's faith in me with good performances."

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