Can still sidelined, his Dortmund future in doubt | OneFootball

After months out due to injury, Emre Can still isn’t back on the pitch for BVB. A comeback is not expected for at least a few weeks—and his future in Dortmund remains uncertain.

Emre Can remains sidelined at BVB, and a return for the captain is still up in the air. Since March, the 31-year-old has been struggling with persistent adductor problems that have kept him out for the entire season so far. Even during last season, Can played through several matches in pain before he was only able to make brief appearances. According to the Ruhr Nachrichten, a return is not expected before October at the earliest, with Can initially set to be eased back into full training slowly.

The injury comes at a difficult time for Borussia Dortmund. With Niklas Süle suffering a serious injury during pre-season and Nico Schlotterbeck, whose comeback is not expected before autumn, the club is missing two key central defenders. At the start of the season, Kovac only had Waldemar Anton and the inexperienced Filippo Mane as recognized center-backs for his preferred back three. After a disappointing 3-3 draw against 1. FC St. Pauli and a weak debut from Mane, the club felt compelled to sign Aaron Anselmino from Chelsea as an emergency solution.

Can under pressure: Contract with BVB runs until 2026

The situation is becoming increasingly critical for Can personally. His contract runs until the summer of 2026, and the longer he is out, the harder it will be for him to reclaim a regular spot in the team. At the same time, Schlotterbeck is preparing to take over the captaincy in the long term, while Anton has now established himself as a key figure in defense.

Off the pitch, Emre Can has not always been without controversy in the past. He has often faced a tough time in the public eye, being made a scapegoat after poor performances and frequently targeted by criticism. Internally, however, he continues to be highly valued, as reported by the Ruhr Nachrichten.

After almost six years in Dortmund, the national team player now faces the threat of an inglorious exit. The likelihood of him reclaiming a regular spot or earning a new contract after his return decreases with each additional day of rehab. For a player who has long been a central leader at BVB, this would be a bitter end.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.