Leon Goretzka’s market value absolutely tanked a staggering 58 million euros since 2021, crashing from a high of 70 million euros down to just 12 million euros. This is not just bad news, it is a full-blown career crisis, all thanks to a World Cup gamble that blew up in his face, leaving him without a club and demanding an eye-watering signing bonus no one seems willing to pay.
Nagelsmann’s Broken Promise and Goretzka’s World Cup Meltdown
Before the World Cup, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann reportedly told ‘kicker’ that Goretzka “will have a good chance of playing.” Goretzka, who was a Bayern benchwarmer, banked on this, planning to use the tournament to cement his place as a nailed-on starter for Germany and land a sweet deal with a new top club. He played hardball, refusing to sign anywhere, probably feeling pretty comfortable with the World Cup around the corner. But oh man, did that backfire! Germany got knocked out in the round of 32, and Nagelsmann’s promise? Completely forgotten. Goretzka barely saw the field, clocking 17 minutes against Curaçao and a measly 5 minutes against Ivory Coast in the group stage, then chilling on the bench for the entire Ecuador match. He got a halftime cameo against Paraguay, but his big moment was apparently refusing to take a penalty in the shootout. Reports from ‘Sport Bild’ say he was already distancing himself from teammates and throwing a serious tantrum over his standing, attracting negative attention for his bad mood. That’s a brutal look for any player.
His €17 Million Bayern Payday is Now a €10 Million Problem
His contract at Bayern was not extended because of his reserve role and massive salary. Now he is clubless, with the transfer window wide open, and he is nowhere near an agreement with anyone. Rumors of a move to Milan before the tournament have gone stone cold. Juventus is reportedly interested, but Goretzka’s demands are wild: around ten million euros just for his signature, plus a net salary of seven million euros per season. Remember, he was pulling in around 17 million euros gross per year at Bayern, according to ‘Bild’. Juventus is also looking at Franck Kessié, who is also clubless and would be a cheaper alternative with lower salary demands. Goretzka’s demands are likely scaring off other clubs, which means things are staying way too quiet around the 31-year-old German international.
Klopp’s New Era: Why Goretzka’s Play Style Is a Mismatch
Goretzka has to be seriously worried about his spot on the Germany team. Jürgen Klopp just stepped in as the new coach, and his philosophy is all about aggressive pressing, closing down spaces, and winning duels. Klopp needs players with crucial timing for stepping out and covering. And what has Goretzka lost a bit of in recent years? You guessed it, that exact timing. At 31, after debuting for Bochum in 2012 and playing continuously in the Bundesliga since 2013, he is far from his peak. His market value plummeting from 70 million euros in 2021 to 12 million euros now is the cold, hard proof. With Klopp changing the game, Goretzka needs to find a club and get his form back, or his international career could be toast before it even begins.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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