Our Thursday night Europa League opponents Borussia Dortmund may have unwittingly done us a huge favour at the weekend…
As has been publicised more or less everywhere, such as here in the Guardian, Liverpool want Mario Gotze in the summer and the German playmaker is also keen on reuniting with Jurgen Klopp – the key factor if Bayern Munich choose to sell.
However, Borussia Dortmund, Gotze’s former club, emerged as rivals for the 23-year-old’s signature recently, with chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke claiming ‘the door remains open‘, while legendary figure Lothar Matthaus urged Gotze to snub us and sign for BVB instead (via Daily Mail).
Against Werder Bremen on Saturday though, Dortmund supporters let the world know in no uncertain terms that Mario Gotze was not welcome back at Signal Iduna Park.
An enormous banner, seen below, read: “Milan or Madrid – Just not Dortmund. Piss off Gotze.”
Dortmund supporters see Gotze as a traitor after his deal to Bayern was announced before the 2013 Champions League final between the two sides. When Robert Lewandowski joined Bayern as well, Dortmund’s best players had been ravaged by their arch rivals, so it’s no surprise they hold a grudge – especially when they’re doing so well this season without them.
For Liverpool, you’d assume this effectively rules out competition from Dortmund to sign him come the end of the season, although there’ll no doubt be other suitors.
Hopefully the lure of Klopp will prove too much for Gotze.
📷 | Dortmund fans: “Milan or Madrid – Just not Dortmund! Piss off, Götze!” pic.twitter.com/himLIS03zN
— Sefendo (@Sefendo) April 2, 2016