Borussia Dortmund President Hans-Joachim Watzke is asking for fans’ understanding regarding the contract terms for Nico Schlotterbeck.
«The issue of a release clause, we ruled that out here twelve or thirteen years ago. But nowadays it’s ‘state of the art’,» Watzke said in an interview with the Ruhr Nachrichten.
He added, «We have to be honest with ourselves» on this matter. «That’s exactly what Bayern Munich does, just like Paris or whoever. It’s hardly any different these days.» Transfer fees have become «so enormously large that you can’t afford major mistakes anymore – and you also can’t let a player like that leave for free.»
National player Schlotterbeck (26) extended his BVB contract until 2031 on Friday, but he could potentially move to three specific top European clubs as early as the World Cup summer. According to Sport Bild, Liverpool and Real Madrid are two of these clubs. «We have significantly secured the transfer value of this player and thereby significantly increased our planning security,» Watzke emphasized. «I say: It’s a good compromise.»
Watzke defended the player, who was jeered by some fans over the weekend: «Nico behaved very correctly throughout the entire contract negotiation phase.»