Club worries as a new opportunity?
FC Bayern suddenly holds the door open for Leon Goretzka again
Leon Goretzka's time at FC Bayern seems to be over. The national player, who was no longer considered recently, is allowed to leave the record champions. But the player wants to stay. After several injuries in the squad, a chance could actually open up again.
Leon Goretzka had a slight smile on his lips when his working day at FC Bayern ended in the 62nd minute. After being substituted in the test match against Grasshopper Zurich, he high-fived his teammates and disappeared straight into the dressing room – before the discussions about the future of the “discarded” player in Munich picked up speed again. Can Goretzka still hope for a new chance?
His appearance in the starting eleven against the Swiss first division team can at least be seen as an indication. Goretzka was used as a central defender in the easy 4-0 (1-0) victory, played solidly, and some fans chanted his name. The 29-year-old is said not to want to leave the club despite the difficult sporting situation. According to media reports, those responsible at the German record champions are now also assuming that the Bochum-born player, whose contract runs until 2026, will stay.
“It's nothing bad”
“We have never spoken badly about Leon in any way, Leon is a great player. Leon has done great things for FC Bayern,” said sports director Max Eberl on the sidelines of the test match: “Leon is a full member of the team. We are not saying anything else. We have only said or implied that it can be difficult. Period! That's it!” Competitive situations are “completely normal in professional football, in our performance-oriented society too,” noted Eberl: “But there is nothing bad about it.”
And so they could now try to find a new role for him in Munich – especially since there is a need in defence. After the injury of right-back Josip Stanisic, who will be out for weeks with a torn lateral ligament in his right knee, coach Vincent Kompany has to (3.30 p.m., DAZN and in the live ticker at ntv.de) at VfL Wolfsburg. That could play into Goretzka's hands.
“Bayern says quite openly what the situation is”
Stanisic's injury is “bad news,” said Eberl. The Croatian European Championship participant was firmly planned for the right side of defense. Hiroki Ito is also still out injured. And so Joshua Kimmich could be considered for the position again, and the Austrian all-rounder Konrad Laimer can also play right-back. This will defuse the competition in defensive midfield, where youngster Aleksandar Pavlović and newcomer Joao Palhinha have a good chance of getting a regular place.
The management's intentions with regard to Goretzka have recently become all too clear, with Kompany even removing him from the squad for the cup match against SSV Ulm (4:0). But the club “does not have a second training group, Bayern is not sending anyone away. If he stays, he is a full member of the squad,” Eberl stressed: “Bayern are very open about the situation. And then you can deal with it.”
Despite the injuries, Eberl most likely ruled out a new signing in defence – but there could still be changes in the squad. In addition to Goretzka, Kingsley Coman is also likely to leave the club, although he was also in the starting eleven against Zurich. The Frenchman still has a contract until 2027, but just like with Goretzka, the Munich team would probably be only too happy to save the high salary of the winger, who so often struggles with injury problems. Paris Saint-Germain has been considered an interested party for some time. The record champions do not have much time for personnel changes, the transfer window closes on August 30th. On Sunday, the Munich team will start their hunt for champions Bayer Leverkusen – probably with Goretzka.
