Goretzka no longer has a place in FC Bayern's squad.
Leon Goretzka receives a blend of reassurance and empathy from his teammates. However, this might not be of much aid at Bayern. The 29-year-old appears to be struggling to find a spot in new coach Vincent Kompany's lineup. Foreign clubs are showing interest.
Joshua Kimmich showed understanding towards his mate Leon Goretzka, Thomas Müller still considers him an integral part of the team - yet, it seems the 29-year-old may not have a long-term future at Bayern after six seasons. New coach Vincent Kompany left Goretzka out of the squad for Bayern's 4-0 victory against SSV Ulm in the cup's initial round, despite the player's fitness.
Sporting director Max Eberl mentioned they have an "honest" conversation with the players about their prospects: "They're aware. We've discussed the high-caliber talent we have in our squad, and each player must decide how they wish to handle this." Goretzka's predicament, Eberl admitted, is "certainly not pleasing," stating, "as a player, you aspire to play on the field."
Goretzka still has two years left on his contract with Bayern, Eberl confirmed. However, they would respect this, Eberl added. But it's customary to discuss sporting possibilities. Reports suggest that Atlético Madrid and SSC Napoli are interested. But when asked about concrete inquiries, sporting director Christoph Freund avoided comment, stating it's "not the main topic at the moment." Yet, for a player like Leon Goretzka, who is "extremely skilled," there will always be interest.
No "Wasted Funds"
"We do not have any 'wasted resources'," Eberl stated when inquired about de Ligt potentially joining Manchester United. The calculation for Goretzka likely won't differ greatly. Kompany wants to be clearly explicit with the players. "We conduct these matters within our family, but we don't need to discuss it with others."
From a player's perspective, Kimmich said, "I can say that I genuinely enjoy playing alongside Leon. Everyone knows we're great friends, so it's a bit disheartening for him. But ultimately, I'm not the one making decisions." This is not the first time this season that Goretzka has been overlooked. National coach Julian Nagelsmann also excluded him from the squad for the home European Championship.
Müller asserted that Goretzka demonstrates "the importance we hold for him, and that's mutual." He trains exceptionally well, "but when you look at the squad, tough decisions must be made." Everything else will become apparent, Müller admitted, "truthfully, I have no clue." With the Bundesliga season set to commence in just a week against VfL Wolfsburg, indications point towards Goretzka's possible departure.
I'm not going to sugarcoat this situation: Goretzka's omission from Bayern's lineup and repeated exclusions by coaches, both at the club and nationally, suggest a challenging future at Bayern. I'm not going to lie, it's disheartening to see a talented player like Goretzka struggling to find a place in the team.
