Even a year after his departure, Mats Hummels’ exit from Borussia Dortmund hasn’t been fully resolved. A former teammate criticizes BVB for the circumstances.
The departure of Mats Hummels from Borussia Dortmund a year ago still leaves a bad taste for a former BVB star.
“If you already carry the slogan ‘Echte Liebe’ (True Love), which is BVB’s slogan, then it’s difficult when there are repeated examples that don’t prove it, but prove the opposite,” said Neven Subotic.
Neven Subotic comments on Mats Hummels’ departure
A fitting farewell for Hummels, such as a short comeback at the Club World Cup, could be a win-win situation for both sides, according to Subotic: “Here we have the case of a very credible Mats Hummels who criticizes with a heavy heart, but rightly so, because it could be a success story, not only for him, but I think also for the club, in order to actually address this ‘True Love’.”
Subotic: Hummels Didn’t Get A Valued Farewell
Subotic played successfully alongside Hummels for a long time – but ended his career much earlier. For his former colleague, it’s only ending these days. Shortly before his last game with AS Roma, which he joined after leaving BVB, there were speculations about a several-week comeback. However, Borussia had given it a preliminary rejection.
The way it has gone so far, “it was not a valued farewell,” Subotic said: “Therefore, I would grant it to him, I would also grant it to the club. For that, one or another club chairman has to draw the short straw and change his mind. I hope that happens.”
For more than 13 years, Mats Hummels was almost indispensable. Soon, the defender will play what is probably the last professional game of his illustrious career when Roma plays FC Turin and, after a turbulent season in which the centre-back rarely got a chance, could even reach the Champions League (from 8.45 pm in the LIVETICKER).
But if Hummels had had his way, even a sensational comeback at BVB would have been possible.
Mats Hummels would have liked to end his career at BVB
“Ending my career as a BVB player, that would be something in my head again,” the 36-year-old said in a documentary in early April. “I can also honestly say: I already sought the conversation last week. I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Hummels’ return to bvb rather excluded
Meanwhile, it is probably finally clear that Hummels will draw a line under his career at the end of the season. His departure was also contributed to by an interview in which he indirectly criticized the then coach Edin Terzic a few days before the 2024 Champions League final.
“It should have gone differently than with me,” explained the veteran. “Actually, it is more likely that it will be communicated to you in a personal conversation. I think someone wanted to pay me back for the interview and leaked it to the press before it was publicly announced.”
While Terzic himself left the club after the lost final against Real, Hummels “would have liked to stay in Dortmund, under certain conditions. That was no longer a big secret at some point. I always had the hope that it would still come about.”