Sport Bild Report: Goretzka nixes loan to Galatasaray, salary concerns may be an issue

The state of uncertainty surrounding former Bayern and German national team regular Leon Goretzka nearly resulted in a loan out to Galatasaray Istanbul near the end of the transfer window. This was reported by Germany’s main sporting tabloid, “Sport Bild”, today. The paper claims that Goretzka himself vetoed the move. The two clubs were having difficulty figuring out how to split the responsibility of Goretzka’s salary as well. 

Sport Bild claims that Goretzka earns between €16 and €18 million annually. This may be one reason why the 29-year-old is reluctant to move elsewhere even though his playing prospects with the German record champions remain dismal. The Turkish club could theoretically still try to acquire Goretzka as the transfer window in Turkey remains open through September 13th. 

Former Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer joined the growing chorus of experienced German footballing administrators and pundits urging Goretzka to accept a transfer elsewhere whilst speaking at a press round at a Munich hotel yesterday. The 57-year-old actually ripped his former club on a number of topics, including the public manner in which Max Eberl and former coach Thomas Tuchel criticized their players. 

This applied to Goretzka as well. 

“He [Goretzka] has his own mind and is independent,” Sammer said of the 57-times-capped international, “But someone [in the FCB administrative apparatus] needs to steer and guide him. I learned that if I no longer wanted a player, there are other ways to solve it than commenting on it in the public sphere.”