Bayern Munich received a shock demand from full back Willy Sagnol after the French international told press that he wants to leave the German soccer giant.

 

"I asked the club's board several weeks ago to let me leave in the winter break," Sagnol told ZDF television late on Saturday, without revealing his reasons.

 

The 30-year-old has recently returned to action after seven months out with a knee injury but did not play in Saturday's Bundesliga game win over VfL Wolfsburg.

 

Joining Bayern in 2000 from Monaco, Sagnol has played 175 Bundesliga matches under a contract running till 2010.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2007)