Soccer World Champion - Podolski on earlier China offer: "What am I supposed to do there?"
There has been no shortage of lucrative offers for soccer world champion Lukas Podolski during his career. The former international, who is currently under contract with Gornik Zabrze, could also have ended up at Man City, Borussia Dortmund or Hamburger SV. "I was in negotiations with Manchester City when I was at Bayern Munich. They visited my advisor and me in Munich at the time and wanted to convince me to make the switch," Podolski told a 1. FC Köln podcast. HSV also made two enquiries and later BVB did too.
Probably the most lucrative offer came from Asia. "I could have gone to China and earned 50 million a year. My advisor met with various clubs. They were crazy and wanted to sign me when the hype started. I just said: What am I supposed to do there?" said the striker, who played for FC Köln for a total of six years.
He has always kept the Rhineland club close to his heart. "One day I want to travel with FC, stand in the south stand, be a normal fan. FC Köln is everything to me. FC took me in, took my family in, made me who I am today. I wouldn't have had this career without FC. There's not a word for it," said Podolski. His contract in Zabrze runs until the end of June 2025. And after that? "You can't cheat age. At some point the battery runs out," said the 38-year-old.
Podolski in the podcast
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- Despite the tempting offers from clubs like Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, and Hamburger SV during his career, Lukas Podolski chose to stay true to his roots in the Rhineland.
- The Soccer World Champion, currently playing for Gornik Zabrze, could have potentially joined FC Bayern Munich in Bavaria, but opted against it.
- Podolski's heart lies with 1. FC Cologne, where he spent a significant part of his career, and he dreams of one day returning as a fan, standing in the south stand.
- The striker turned down the most lucrative offer of his career from a Chinese club, earning an alleged 50 million dollars per year, expressing his confusion about what he would do there.
- Podolski's contract in Zabrze, a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, runs until the end of June 2025, and after that, he acknowledges that age and the decay of his 'battery' will eventually take their toll.
- While negotiating with Manchester City, Lukas Podolski was also approached by FC Köln and Borussia Dortmund in Germany, and even had discussions with Hamburg SV.
- In an interview, Podolski reminisced about his time with 1. FC Cologne, expressing his gratitude for the club's role in shaping his career, taking him in and providing him with an opportunity.
- Despite retired star Lukas Podolski's successful career with German clubs, English powerhouse Manchester City was also keen on welcoming him into their Soccer squad.
Source: www.stern.de
