Fiorentina announced its roster for preseason training and the biggest news is that Robin Gosens is not on the list. The veteran leftback’s status was always uncertain this summer and this confirms that he’s on his way out. Sure enough, Nicolò Schira reports that Schalke’s expressed interest in bringing the 32-year-old to the Veltins-Arena.
This news bums me out. Gosens seems like a lovely guy and has been a huge part of Fiorentina’s squad both on and off the pitch since he arrived on loan from Union
Berlin in 2024. He was one of the side’s most important players under Raffaele Palladino, finishing as the 3rd-leading scorer (8 goals, 9 assists) and making an even bigger impact than those numbers suggest; he finished 3rd in our player of the season poll and fully deserved it.
This past year, though, was as tough on him as it was on everybody else. Never the most mobile player, his struggles to stay in front of quicker opponents were amplified by the miserable defensive ecosystem around him and a hamstring injury that kept him out for 2 months. His teammates’ inability to keep the ball meant he didn’t have time to rumble into the box to create danger at the back post and Paolo Vanoli eventually dropped him in favor of the more dynamic Fabiano Parisi.
Here’s where the character of the man came into play, though. Instead of sulking, Gosens encouraged and coached up his guys from the bench, looking more like a player-coach than a substitute at times. When Parisi went out with a cruciate ligament injury, the Goose didn’t miss a beat and slotted right back in. His leadership, attitude, and overwhelming Germanness (in the best possible way) helped get the club over the line and into safety.
The problem, of course, is his salary. As the 3rd-highest earner at the club last year, he was always in Fabio Paratici’s crosshairs. Leaving him off the ritiro roster is pretty cold but unfortunately, them’s the breaks for a professional athlete. Gosens isn’t washed by any means but his characteristics aren’t the ones Fabio Grosso needs in the squad this year and so off he goes despite his stated desire to stay in Florence.
Shalke should be a great fit, although it could get a bit awkward given that Edin Džeko has a prominent role with die Königsblauen, but maybe they can bond about their irritation with their former employer. For a newly-promoted club trying to regain prominence after a decade of tumult, he’s the exact sort of player who can make a difference.
There’s a chance that this one falls apart at the last minute and Gosens rejoins the squad; according to Passione Fiorentina, Grosso hasn’t exiled him so much as excluded him to prevent a last-minute injury from scuppering the deal. Assuming no funny business, though, the Goose will fly north for the summer and won’t return south for the colder months.
