New details revealed: why Brandt's time at BVB is ending | OneFootball

After seven years at Borussia Dortmund, Julian Brandt is set to leave. New details are now emerging as to why BVB decided against extending his contract.

A long era at Borussia Dortmund is coming to an end: Julian Brandt will leave BVB after the season. A contract extension had already been ruled out — and the reasons behind that decision are now starting to come to light.

As reported by kicker, Brandt’s work off the ball was reportedly viewed critically within the club. New sporting director Ole Book is said to place great importance on attacking players also working consistently without possession. According to the report, video analysis and talks with the coaching staff are key parts of his squad planning. Book also regularly watches Dortmund’s training sessions.

At the same time, the attacking player’s numbers certainly speak for themselves. This season, Brandt has recorded eleven goals and four assists in 39 appearances so far. Under coach Niko Kovac, however, the 30-year-old recently lost his place in the starting lineup.

Even so, Friday night (8:30 p.m.) is likely to be an emotional occasion. In the home match against Eintracht Frankfurt, Brandt could make one final appearance in front of the Südtribüne. Since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in 2019, he has made a total of 305 competitive appearances for the Black and Yellows, becoming one of the club’s defining faces over the years.

After leaving BVB: Is Brandt heading to Spain?

Coach Niko Kovac also made it clear that he is aware of the situation. The BVB boss said he has “an eye on” the cases of Brandt, Salih Özcan and Niklas Süle. At the same time, he did not want to commit to guaranteeing them playing time before the Frankfurt match. He said he would only make the final decision after the last training session.

Photo: IMAGO

While his departure from Dortmund is drawing closer, planning for the next step in his career is apparently already underway behind the scenes. According to Sport Bild, Brandt is attracted by a move to Spain — and not just for sporting reasons. His girlfriend reportedly lives in Catalonia, and the couple are said to be planning to base their life together in Spain.

One possible suitor is Atlético Madrid. Spanish outlet Marca reports that the capital club has the former Germany international on its shortlist. At the same time, it seems clear which option Brandt has ruled out: according to Sport Bild, the Dortmund player has always rejected offers from Saudi Arabia. Brandt himself was recently rather cryptic about his future: “There are many ideas; not every idea is a good one, but there are many ideas.”

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