Former Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has revealed that the advice of his grandmother prevented him from joining Bayern Munich during a distinguished playing career.
The World Cup-winning centre-half found himself registering on the transfer radar of those at the Allianz Arena at various stages.
It was during a productive spell at Hannover that most of the speculation built, with the commanding presence having proved his worth at a Bundesliga rival.
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Bayern would have welcomed the opportunity to add Mertesacker, as a Germany international, to a star-studded squad.