In 2013, Borussia Dortmund played the second Champions League final in its history. Since then they had not been able to cross the quarterfinal barrier… until 2024 when they are giving the big surprise with their presence in the semifinals. Since that agonizing final against Bayern Munich with Jürgen Klopp on the bench, the Borusser have been a machine to sell their best players.
The most spectacular thing about this Borussia Dortmund is that they are in the semifinals when they have just let their two great stars go in the last two years: Erling Braut Haaland and Jude Bellingham. Two of the best current footballers were on the same team in Germany. Despite getting rid of them, the Norwegian left in 2022 for €60M and the Englishman in 2023 for €103M. A sale, which contrary to what one might think, has not reduced the potential of those from Dortmund. Quite the contrary. Other players have stepped forward and a miracle was wrought at the Westfalenstadion.
In these eleven seasons, Dortmund has not only seen Haaland and Bellingham explode and leave good money in their coffers, but many other players have also packed their bags. That summer of 2014, Robert Lewandowski left for Bayern. Of course, he left for free. After the Polish, the exodus has been great. A list of names that the German club has ‘let’ escape at a good price.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (for €42M to Manchester United); Mats Hummels (€35M, to Bayern); İlkay Gündoğan (€27M, to Manchester City); Ousmane Dembélé (Barça paid €135M); Aubameyang (€64M, to Arsenal); Pulisic (€64M, to Chelsea) Yarmolenko (€20M, to West Ham); Mikel Merino (€7M, to Newcastle); Abdou Diallo (€32M, to PSG); Weigl (€20M, to Benfica); Isak (€15M to Real Sociedad); Alcácer (€23M, to Villarreal); Jadon Sancho (€85M, to Manchester United) or Akanji (€20M, to Manchester City)… And so on constantly. Any star that emerged left Dortmund leaving a good pinch. A philosophy of selling, selling and selling, which has borne fruit.
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Sales that have not diminished the Borusser successes one bit. The Bundesliga has been a closed preserve for Bayern Munich these years, but the yellows have managed to be runners-up in 2014, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023. Also in these years, the Pokal finished in their showcases in 2017 and 2021 and won three Super Cups (2014, 2015 and 2020). Dortmund, the best place to launch a career and the best nursery for future stars.
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