New Vancouver Whitecaps star Thomas Müller spent his day off the same way many other residents would.
Müller, who is set to become the highest-paid player in team history next season, opted to explore his new home on two wheels on Monday.
“On my day off after the home game against Houston, I used the time to explore the new city by bike. On my tour through Vancouver, I saw Stanley Park, the Capilano Bridge, and the Seawall, among other places,” Müller wrote on Instagram. “The city is a dream, and I feel very much at home after just a few days.”
Müller’s comments echo those he made after his debut match this weekend. He appeared to get off to a dream start, scoring his first goal just moments after being subbed on, though it was eventually ruled offside in the buildup.
“It was amazing. The noise in the stadium and also the reaction of my teammates. That was a great start for me,” said Müller of the BC Place atmosphere.
It’s no surprise that he’d enjoy exploring somewhere new. The 35-year-old has been living in Germany his entire life, having joined the Bayern Munich youth academy back in 2000 and making his professional debut eight years later at the age of 18.
Interestingly, Müller almost had a mishap with a mountain biking trip prior to the 2010 World Cup, where he earned the Golden Boot as the tournament’s joint top goal scorer. Müller actually required stitches for a nasty gash on his chin, but recovered quickly and wrote himself into the soccer history books with five goals for the German side.
The Whitecaps return home this coming Saturday, with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff against St. Louis City SC. No word yet if Müller will pull up to that one on a bike, or find a new means of transport.
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