Three giants, one goal: Nico Schlotterbeck in Europe's sights | OneFootball

His release clause was a major talking point for a long time. Is Nico Schlotterbeck (26) staying at Borussia Dortmund, or will he still leave this summer?

The answer is now known: the center-back is still wearing black and yellow. Having recovered from the serious injury he suffered around the time of the World Cup, Schlotterbeck has already returned to the national team. In the 1-1 draw against the Netherlands in new national coach Jürgen Klopp’s (59) debut, the BVB pro pulled the strings in Germany’s defense.

An astonishing statistic underlining Schlotterbeck’s quality: in the last 19 international matches he has played in, the DFB team has not suffered a single defeat. When the 1.91-meter man was absent, however, things went significantly worse for the men in eagle-emblazoned shirts. Most recently, they slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Greece.

Only Japan can beat Schlotterbeck

The embarrassing performance and elimination at the World Cup are probably still unpleasant memories for everyone. Because of a torn ligament in his ankle, the Dortmund defender missed both the matches against Ecuador (1-2) and Paraguay (3-4 on penalties). Of his 30 total appearances in the national team shirt, he has won 17. Schlotterbeck has left the pitch as a loser only twice — both times, incidentally, against Japan.

Photo: IMAGO

Performances and qualities that are also attracting major interest abroad. Just because a move fell through last summer does not necessarily mean the Waiblingen native will actually see out his contract until 2031.

According to transfer expert Ekrem Konur on X, three absolute top clubs are monitoring Schlotterbeck’s performances. Liverpool FC, Real Madrid, and FC Barcelona have apparently placed the 26-year-old high on their list among the elite of European football. Thanks to his age, the BVB pro is considered a “long-term investment,” as Konur puts it.

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