Mario Götze and Borussia Dortmund want to continue their cooperation in principle. But difficulties in contract negotiations are inevitable.
Mario Götze poses after a short training session smiling for a Selfie with a fan. In front of the impressive mountain panorama in Swiss Bad Ragaz, the offensive player of runner-up Borussia Dortmund looks completely relaxed. But the idyll is deceptive. There’s a contract poker threat.
The announced talks about an extension of the contract, which expires in 2020, will only start after the Supercup against Bayern Munich on Saturday. Difficulties seem to be programmed.
Both parties know what we have about us,” emphasised Managing Director Hans-Joachim Watzke, “but there are different views on the future salary.
According to kicker information, the BVB wants to pay the 2014 World Cup hero seven to eight million euros per year. Since his return from Munich in 2016, however, Götze, like Marco Reus and Mats Hummels, has earned double-digit millions. With this duo, the 27-year-old sees himself on the same payroll level in the future as well.
According to kicker, the eight-time German champion would rather let the offensive player draw free at the end of the contract than offer him a new contract with an annual salary of ten million euros.
Götze feels no pressure despite the upcoming poker game and the expiring contract. There’s no deadline or day X, according to the 2014 World Champion: “I still have a year left in my contract and am totally relaxed in every respect,” said Götze der Bild-Zeitung, but added: “I’m now entering my tenth Bundesliga season – it’s logical that foreign countries also play a role in my considerations.
The FC Arsenal is said to have already expressed interest. Michael Zorc stays calm. The sports director told the SID that “talks will be held very briefly”. The goal is quite clear, “to keep him in Dortmund”.
Following his significant rise in form last season, when Götze scored seven goals and seven templates in 26 Bundesliga matches, coach Lucien Favre is hoping for a further increase in what was once the biggest promise of German football.
Götze does not have a regular place guarantee. In Julian Brandt and Thorgan Hazard, top-class reinforcements have been added to the offensive. In the past season Götze competed mostly with Paco Alcacer for the top spot and also profited from the one or other injury of the Spanish goalkeeper.
In preparation, Favre also tested Belgian international Hazard as a striker, a role the 26-year-old has sometimes played for Borussia Mönchengladbach. For Götze, the coming weeks will therefore see groundbreaking decisions – on and off the pitch.
