Bayern Munich captain Phillip Lahm has revealed that he considered leaving the German champions.
The 31-year-old has come through the youth ranks at the club and has helped them to win seven Bundesliga titles and the Champions League.
However, he has admitted that he mulled over a future away from Bavaria, before deciding against the move in order to help his hometown club achieve further success.
"Seven years ago it was a topic because my contract was not running that long at that time," he told Goal.com.
"I thought about leaving, thought about a new challenge. It was always the most important for me to have every success possible with my club, FC Bayern.
"Maybe I would have had the chance to win the Champions League with another club some years before I finally did. But it would not have been the same, emotionally."
Lahm, who captained Germany to success in the World Cup last summer, has made over 400 appearances for Bayern.
Alex Meyers
