RB Leipzig deny reports of Kevin Kampl’s retirement, call more ‘grace and sensitivity’ in reporting on midfielder’s situation | OneFootball

RB Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schäfer wasn’t pleased about responding to rumors surfacing yesterday concerning one of his players. A report suggesting that midfielder Kevin Kampl was preparing to retire from football for “personal reasons“ was not only inaccurate, but also thrust Kampl’s private life into the limelight unnecessarily. 

Schäfer and Leipzig head coach Ole Werner – speaking to Sky Germany ahead of kickoff in the Bundesliga Saturday evening “Top Spiel” – both noted that the familial issues Kampl is dealing with should not be publicly disclosed at this time. Schäfer emphasized that “no decision had been made” on Kampl’s future yet. 

Leipzig want Kampl’s issues kept out of the media

“In recent weeks, we’ve had several highly confidential conversations [with Kevin] about his special circumstances and familial situation,” Schäfer told Sky. “This is a unique private matter in which I would have liked to have seen more grace and sensitivity from people.

“The well-being of Kevin and his family is our top priority,” Schäfer continued. “That’s how we’ve handled it, and I would expect everyone else to do the same.”

“This is obviously a very difficult situation for him,” Werner added in his own interview. “Kevin can decide for himself how long he needs and what he plans to do in discussions with his family. We’ve given him that time.“

GGFN | Peter Weis