Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger announces international retirement

Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has announced his retirement from international football. The 31-year-old star played 120 times for Germany, scoring 24 international goals during his 12-year career with the national team, but has decided to walk away following their loss to France in the semi-finals of Euro 2016.

Schweinsteiger, who has suffered a succession of injuries in recent years, won the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 and captained the side following the retirement of his former Bayern Munich teammate Philipp Lahm. However, the decision had been widely rumoured amid increased competition from younger players and his recent injury woes.

The announcement means that Schweinsteiger's sole focus now will be on his club career with United, with whom he endured an injury-hit first season in 2015/16. Indeed, the German has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford since the arrival of new manager Jose Mourinho.

Schweinsteiger – who recently married tennis star Ana Ivanovic – is said to be among nine players who have been told by the United boss that they are free to leave the club, either on loan or permanently, according to The Times.

Schweinsteiger was signed by United from Bayern last summer, but failed to make the impact many had anticipated during his first season in England.