Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has at least another two years at the top level, Bayer Leverkusen director of sport Rudi Voller has said.
New United manager Jose Mourinho appears ready to make 32-year-old Schweinsteiger one of the early casualties of his new era at Old Trafford, but Voller said he still had plenty to offer.
The former Germany striker, who gave Schweinsteiger his Germany debut in 2004, backed his decision to retire from international football and said it would prolong his career.
"No matter where his future lies, Bastian will play on at the highest level for at least another two years," Voller told Bild am Sonntag.
"It's going to help him that he will no longer be playing for the national team.
"It will do him good that this additional burden has been released. Philipp Lahm is the best example of that."
Schweinsteiger's career has been blighted by injury, but Voller believes a reduced workload will enable him to return to his best form.
"It's part of your playing career than you become prone to injury and people then always ask questions about your future, but this is a challenge that he now has to and will stand up to," he added.
Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said Schweinsteiger will not return to the Allianz Arena.