World Cup as a career killer: has this Germany star gambled badly? | OneFootball

"As things stand, he’ll have a good chance of playing," Julian Nagelsmann told 'kicker' before the World Cup. Bayern benchwarmer Leon Goretzka was supposed to be a nailed-on starter in midfield for Germany, much like in qualifying, and wanted to use that to recommend himself to a new top club. Neither happened, however, and Goretzka is now facing a problem. 

Because of his role as a reserve player and his high salary, his contract in Munich was not extended. Goretzka then played hardball and did not sign anywhere else. He probably saw himself in a comfortable position with the tournament just around the corner.

But just a month later, those hopes have already faded again. The Germany team was eliminated in the round of 32, and Nagelsmann did not keep his promise. Instead, Goretzka only made brief appearances in the group stage against Curaçao (17 minutes) and Ivory Coast (5 minutes), and remained on the bench for the entire match against Ecuador. Against Paraguay, he was at least brought on at halftime, but even then he only stood out because he apparently did not want to take a penalty in the shootout. 

Even before the decisive match, Goretzka had reportedly distanced himself from his teammates and was clearly disappointed with his standing, according to a report by 'Sport Bild'. He had also attracted negative attention among his teammates because of his bad mood. 

The disappointment was said to be huge, as the 31-year-old had already seen himself as an important player in the double pivot after Nagelsmann’s announcement. Despite his limited playing time at the World Cup and the negative headlines, he now still has to find a new club. The transfer window has been open for quite a while, but at the moment Goretzka is just as far from reaching an agreement as he is from earning a regular spot in the Germany team. 

Before the tournament, there were still rumors about a move to Milan, but those have since cooled. Instead, Juventus are said to be interested. His demanded signing bonus could put the club off. As reported by the Italian outlet 'Calciomercato', the former Bayern star is said to be demanding around ten million euros for his signature as well as a net salary of seven million euros per season. At Bayern, according to 'Bild', he earned around 17 million euros gross per year. 

Besides Goretzka, the clubless Franck Kessié is also reportedly on the Old Lady’s wishlist and would therefore be a cheaper alternative, especially since he is said to be asking for a lower salary. 

Goretzka’s high demands are likely to deter other clubs as well — and so things remain relatively quiet around the German international, who must now also worry about his place in the Germany team. After all, Jürgen Klopp has just been introduced as coach, and in buildup play he relies on pressing. Spaces are to be closed down, and duels are to be contested aggressively. Under the new national coach, the right timing when stepping out and covering will therefore be crucial. 

However, that is exactly what the midfielder has lost a bit of in recent years. One must not forget that at 31, he has already been in the professional game for quite a long time. After making his professional debut for Bochum in the 2. Bundesliga in 2012 and playing continuously in the Bundesliga since 2013, he is now far from his peak. His market value was still 70 million euros in 2021; now it is just 12 million euros (source: 'transfermarkt.de'). Moreover, significantly younger competition such as Felix Nmecha and Tom Bischof is already waiting in the wings. 

Instead of getting the hoped-for World Cup boost, he now has to be careful that his demands do not become the final killer of his career. Because the longer the transfer window remains open, the smaller the pool of clubs willing to dig that deep into their pockets for him. Goretzka has to decide: take a pay cut or accept that his next move will be a step down in sporting terms.

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

📸 JEWEL SAMAD - AFP or licensors