Marco Reus’ contract with BVB expires in the summer. Image: imago/ kirchner-media
Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund is in danger of losing an absolute leader and identification figure: BVB captain Marco Reus’ contract expires in the summer. If Dortmund does not agree on an extension with the 33-year-old by the end of the season, Reus could leave the club free of charge. This should be a lucrative option for some other clubs – which a direct competitor of the black and yellow now openly admits.
Reus himself is sending mixed signals to the outside world about his future in Dortmund. “BVB is my club, Dortmund is my hometown and I would like to end my career here”, said the BVB captain before the start of the season. In the recent past, however, Reus did not sound so convinced.
Old acquaintance has BVB star Reus on the slip
When asked about the rumors about a possible move to Al-Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo, the Dortmund-born simply said: “For me it’s important that I stay healthy, take part in the entire training camp and the games. The rest will be seen in the future, that’s what I have my advisor for.“A clear commitment sounds different.
Marco Reus has played for Borussia Dortmund since 2012. Photo: imago/ ulrich wagner
This did not go unnoticed by league competitor RB Leipzig, who is reportedly now looking to sign the attacking midfielder. In the “Bild” program “The situation of the league” said Max Eberl, the managing director of the Saxons:
“In general, free transfer players have found a very large market. If players are free transfers, then you should at least deal with each one.”
It is interesting that Reus and Eberl have a common past. Found to be too weak in the Dortmund youth, Reus switched to Borussia Mönchengladbach via the intermediate station Rot Weiss Ahlen in 2009 for a transfer fee of one million euros. The transfer was initiated by Max Eberl himself, who was still the Foals’ sports director at the time. “Reus was one of my first big transfers that I was able to make in Gladbach”Eberl remembers today.
Reus would have to expect a drop in salary in Dortmund
Despite the injury susceptibility and fluctuating performance, the Leipzig sports director still thinks highly of the Dortmund captain. When asked about the rather younger orientation of the RB squad, Max Eberl found: “Marco is more of a leader who can make a squad stronger with his experience.”
Max Eberl already worked with Marco Reus in Gladbach.Image: dpa / Jan Woitas
However, should Marco Reus extend his contract in the Ruhr area, he would probably have to expect drastic salary losses there. With an estimated annual salary of 12 million euros, he is currently one of the top earners. According to BVB circles, they want to rely more on performance-related contracts in the future.
“After the salaries have developed in the last ten years, it is necessary to spread the risk a bit.”BVB Managing Director Hans-Joachim Watzke recently emphasized to “Spox“. “Then players have to take risks.”
FC Bayern returned from the training camp in Doha on Thursday. Munich will soon meet RB Leipzig in their first Bundesliga game after the break. They have already completed a friendly against RB Salzburg this year. However, this is all happening without one of their key players.
