Mats Hummels: I was very close to joining Manchester United

The 27-year-old returned to the Bavarian outfit – a club in which he spent 14 years before a permanent move to Dortmund – in May and has featured heavily for the reigning champions so far this season.

Munich is the birthplace of Oktoberfest and somewhat surprisingly, Hummels has revealed to the Daily Mail that he doesn’t even like the local produce.

“I don’t like beer,” he says. “I don’t like the taste. I tried it 15 times in my life. I grew up with Oktoberfest but I just didn’t like it. If I put that much beer (puts his finger and thumb close together) and that much lemonade (stretches his fingers apart) it still tastes like beer.

“If I’m on a night out, I’ll maybe have a gin and tonic but it’s not like I drink five. I just drink lots of water, so I don’t ever get drunk. Most of the time, it is calm and we can go out here in the centre of Munich in peace.”

According to the Mail, the previous conversation came off the back of a chat about Wayne Rooney, who recently came under scrutiny for an ill-advised night on the beers whilst on England duty.

Hummels knows all too well about the pressures of playing for one of the world’s leading club teams, so the subject of the Manchester United captain is one that he has shown a great interest in.

“I don’t like the scrutiny he has been getting,” says the German. “I’m very aware of it. I am very interested in what is happening in England. How many years has he played for Manchester United now? 12? How many years has he been a top player for the English national team? 10? Maybe more? You can’t be at your best all the time.”

Hummels almost joined Rooney at Manchester United, having been pursued by David Moyes in 2013 before serious conversations with his successor, Louis van Gaal.

“Yes,” he says, when asked how close a deal was. “Yes, very close. There were talks, several times in the last few years. I had offers from England or one of the three big Spanish clubs.

“But nothing got close like from England. Van Gaal wanted me but he wasn’t the only one. It is difficult for me to play in England now. I’m 28 next month and I’ve signed here for five years.”