Bayern Munich and Italy striker Luca Toni has said he would like international team mate Gennaro Gattuso to join him in Germany.

Milan midfielder Gattuso met club officials after expressing reservations about whether he wanted to stay.

"I said to my directors that I would like an Italian in the squad to have a bit of company but above all so we can make another jump in quality," Toni said.

"Certainly to play with him would please me very much."

Gattuso and Toni were team-mates in Italy's 2006 World Cup triumph but have experienced differing fortunes this season.

Toni hit the ground running following his move from Fiorentina, scoring 39 goals in just 46 games to break the Bayern record for goals scored in a debut season for the club.

The 30-year-old finished as the Bundesliga's top scorer with 24 goals and claimed the first domestic silverware of his playing career as Bayern completed a treble of Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and German League Cup.

Gattuso's Milan have had a frustrating season by comparison, being eliminated from the Champions League by Arsenal at the last-16 stage and finishing fifth in Serie A after a poor start to the campaign.

Tom Williams / Eurosport / Reuters