Bastian Schweinsteiger says he can envisage a future in New York, but not before 2018.
The Manchester United midfielder played his final game for Germany on Wednesday night, making a tearful farewell in his testimonial — a 2-0 win over Finland.
He insists he has not played the last game of his career at the highest level, though, despite a difficult situation at United which he is intent on resolving positively before thinking of the next step, which could be a move to Major League Soccer.
“New York is a great city, but I have a contract with United until 2018 and you know what the atmosphere is like at Old Trafford and it’s my dream to run out there again,” he told Germany’s ZDF television.
“I hope I get the chance to help the team again.”
Schweinsteiger has been frozen out by new United manager Jose Mourinho and he is no longer training with the first team — but he says he will just keep working hard and see how the situation evolves.
He continued: “I’m the kind of person who lives on intuition. I don’t think of planning ahead, I like to live and enjoy the moment.
“I love football still too much and that means being on the field, playing, and that is what I am thinking about.
“I’m enjoying it too much at the moment and I hope that it continues a few more years yet.”
He shared the field with Mesut Ozil on Wednesday and the Arsenal forward paid tribute to a man he says he will miss when he reports for international duty in future.
“We’re all sad,” Ozil said. “We know he’s a great lad and a great footballer who’s given a great deal for his country and you can see how grateful the fans are to have had a player like him.
“We’re all delighted to have been able to play with him, and we’re very proud of him.
"Of course we will miss him. He and Lukas Podolski, who we mustn't forget either, had a great deal of positive energy all the time."
