2016-05-25 17:47:28
The Swiss granite Xhaka leaves Mönchengladbach. Photo: Gabriele Putzu
(Photo: dpa)
After the record income, the Gladbachers now have greater financial leeway for new staff. So far Tobias Strobl “We are losing a very, very good player, but with the transfer fee we have achieved, we have the opportunity to further complement our team in a meaningful way,” said Gladbach’s sporting director Max Eberl after the announcement of Xhaka’s transfer to Arsenal.
In an interview on Gladbach’s website, the Swiss thanked his previous club for “wonderful years”. “I’m very proud and happy to have played for Borussia for four years and to have achieved a lot with the club,” said the 23-year-old, who is currently preparing for the European Championships in France with the Swiss national team in Lugano. “It hurt me a lot to say goodbye to the boys,” he said. Time had “changed him in a positive sense” as a person. In terms of character, he had “become much stronger and more mature”.
The transfer sum is said to be around 43 million euros and is the highest sum that the Bundesliga club has ever received for a player. This makes Xhaka the second most expensive Bundesliga transfer after ex-Wolfsburg player Kevin de Bruyne, who moved to Manchester City last year for around 75 million euros. In addition, FC Basel, which receives part of the fee for the training of the player, also benefits.
“For me personally, all the sums don’t play a big role. I’m happy that Borussia gets such a transfer fee for me and can now further strengthen the team,” said Xhaka. He is not impressed by the expectations in England. “There is one thing I learned at Borussia: no longer put unnecessary pressure on myself.”
The change, which has been suggested for weeks, is a sporting loss for Gladbach, but it can be offset financially. Four years ago, the midfielder was signed from Basel for 8.5 million euros. Xhaka rose to become a leading player and team captain with Borussia. “We would like to thank Granit for his commitment to Borussia over the past four years and we wish him every success at his new club in London,” said Eberl.
The premiere league club from London is very happy about the commitment. “We’ve been watching him for a long time. He is a player who will increase the quality of our squad,” said Arsenal coach Arsène Wenger.
After the record income, the Gladbachers now have greater financial leeway for new staff. So far, Tobias Strobl (1899 Hoffenheim) has only made a perfect move, with Bremen’s Jannik Vestergaard imminent. According to earlier statements by Eberl, Xhaka’s position will not be replaced “1:1”. It is conceivable that two players will be signed for defensive midfield.
The list of candidates is long: Bayern Munich’s Sebastian Rode is one of them, as is former Gladbacher Christoph Kramer, for whom Bayer Leverkusen would demand a high transfer fee. Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg is also on the market. Eberl also kept an eye out for reinforcements in nearby European countries. With a successful qualification for the Champions League, the Gladbachers could even grow financially.
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