Demichelis homesick in Munich

Bayern Munich defender Martin Demichelis is pondering a return to Argentina as he is feeling homesick in Germany.

Speaking to Kicker magazine, the 29-year-old admitted he was feeling isolated in Bavaria, in both his personal and professional lives.

"Life in Germany is still hard for me," he said.

"I miss quite a few things from Argentina. I live here alone with my wife and son and I don't have any South American friends in the squad anymore.

"Certainly some might say that a man has got to be able to deal with that and I am not saying that life is better in South America, but that is where my roots are and that is my country, my family and my history."

Demichelis has struggled to convince coach Louis van Gaal of his worth after being one of the last players to start pre-season training due to injury in July.

In that time, Van Gaal had made Holger Badstuber and Daniel van Buyten his first-choice selections for the centre of the defence and Demichelis was surprised that he did not walk straight back into the team.

He therefore feels he is not wanted as much as captain Mark van Bommel, who returned to the starting XI immediately after an injury at the start of the season.

"There was another player who was injured and then came straight back in," he added.

"That made it clear to me that I am not important to this team and the coach.

"I was disappointed and wanted the same treatment as Mark. If I am not important for the team, then I would rather go home."

And Demichelis knows there would not be a lack of takers in Argentina, where he feels he is more valued than in the Bundesliga.

"I think I am the first player in the world who plays first for the national team and then for his club," he said.

"When I got back to Munich, I was still sat on the bench two or three times.

"The coach wanted to play with Van Buyten and Badstuber. Lucio was gone and I was only second choice.

"That way, the coach was never really able to get to know me properly."

Demichelis could return to the Bayern starting XI in Friday's Bundesliga clash with Hoffenheim since he has been used regularly in training by Van Gaal during the winter break.