“If I were him…”: BVB legend warns against Schlotterbeck leaving | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund has reason to worry about Nico Schlotterbeck. A BVB legend warns of a possible departure of the national player and at the same time makes a clear appeal to the 26-year-old.

Speculation around Nico Schlotterbeck continues to intensify at Borussia Dortmund. Although the central defender is under contract with BVB until 2027, he is considered a highly sought-after candidate on the international transfer market. Even a move within the Bundesliga – for example to FC Bayern – is repeatedly discussed.

BVB legend Jürgen Kohler views the situation with mixed feelings. The 1990 World Cup winner clearly advises the 26-year-old to stay, but at the same time warns of a possible departure. “Just pointing to the logo isn’t enough. I believe he’s committed with his heart, but he wants to see development,” Kohler said on SPORT1. His personal recommendation was nonetheless clear: “If I were him, I would choose Dortmund.” At the same time, Kohler realistically assesses the situation: “It will be difficult to keep Schlotterbeck.”

BVB is officially keeping calm. Managing director Lars Ricken emphasized before the away game in Freiburg that they do not want to put themselves under pressure in the negotiations.

No Deadline at BVB: Contract Talks with Schlotterbeck Without Time Pressure

The club rejects the idea of a deadline; instead, the exchange is “trustful.” Ricken explicitly sees Schlotterbeck’s emotionality as a positive sign: “This emotionality shows his identification.” In his view, a player with clear intentions to leave would behave differently.

The situation is also being closely monitored at FC Bayern, though it is not currently a top priority. In Munich, the focus is first on extending Dayot Upamecano’s contract. Kohler made it clear: “Bayern absolutely has to keep Upamecano.” Sporting director Max Eberl recently confirmed that talks are going “very well,” while other rumors are “complete nonsense.”

Thus, it remains clear: Schlotterbeck is enormously important to Dortmund both athletically and emotionally, but the competition isn’t sleeping. Whether BVB can secure their defensive leader for the long term will likely depend less on symbols and more on sporting prospects.

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