Bayern Munich is letting go of a few players this season, but none of them are as important to the club as Leon Goretzka.
The central midfielder arrived in 2018 from Schalke, and quickly made a name for himself. Within two years, he won the sextuple with Bayern. Goretzka was a fan favorite, he had the skills, the charm and the physicality. Having become the starting midfielder of choice alongside Joshua Kimmich, he was one of the most important players post-2020.
Over the past five years, however,
things were not smooth. the German international ran into his fair share of injuries — from persistent knee issues requiring surgery to multiple muscular injuries, often seeing him sidelined. This alongside his inconsistent performances, raised questions on how long he’d stay at Bayern before bidding the club farewell. Additionally, younger players like Aleksander Pavlovic and Tom Bischof found themselves higher in the pecking order.
A joint decision by the board to no longer extend Goretzka was made and hence, the 31-year-old now finds himself in search of a new club.
However, the fans did their part. In his last home game with Bayern against FC Köln, Goretzka received a standing ovation on being subbed off.
This only proves one thing — with the fans, there is truly no bad blood. Goretzka will always be one of theirs and for his contributions, they appreciate him.
Last year, Manuel Neuer handed Thomas Müller the Meisterschale ahead of Müller’s exit, and Neuer repeated the same this year. The keeper handed Goretzka the trophy for him to be the first to lift it.
(I am not crying, you’re crying!)
Danke Leon. Wishing you the best.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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