Football: Schweinsteiger 'surprised' by Old Trafford welcome

BERLIN - Bastian Schweinsteiger is "surprised" at the warmth of the welcome from Manchester United fans since the World Cup winner's move from Bayern Munich to Old Trafford.

The 30-year-old Germany midfield general completed a £14m (19.47m euros, $21.72m) switch to United last month after agreeing a three-year deal with Louis van Gaal's Premier League side.

And he told Tuesday's edition of Bild he was enjoying life in his new surroundings.

"For me, it was a big surprise to see how many supporters welcomed me with warmth and enthusiasm at the opening league game against Tottenham at Old Trafford," he said.

"It gave me goose bumps," he added, declaring that it was "an honour" to be the first German to sign for United.

"I can promise I'll do everything I can using all my experience to try and help the club to reach the same international level as Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern." Of any future run-in with his former teammates at Bayern he reflected: "I play now for Manchester United. It's possible that over the next three years we'll meet in the Champions League, that would be a really good clash." Schweinsteiger made his Old Trafford debut an hour into the Tottenham game when he came on to replace Michael Carrick.

And he took with good grace a playful suggestion in one domestic match report that "he'd eaten too much choucroute", telling Bild: "The English have a particular sense of humour".