Mario Gotze is damaged goods. It’s the reason why Bayern Munich were desperate to get rid of him and why Borussia Dortmund we able to sign him for many millions less than the price for which they sold him in 2013.
It did not work out for Gotze at Bayern. His signing had more to do with unsettling Dortmund and putting them back in their place than it had to do with progressing Gotze’s career and improving the Bayern line-up. Bayern did not even bother to negotiate with Dortmund; they activated his release clause of around €37 million and moved on with thrashing out personal terms.
Gotze was Pep Guardiola’s welcome present when he arrived at the Allianz Arena but the Catalan was curiously unenthusiastic about putting Gotze in his first-choice line-up. He preferred Robert Lewandowski – a man who followed Gotze from BVB 12 months on – in the striking positions and the signings of Kingsley Coman and Douglas Costa last summer were a clear indicator that he didn’t fancy him in a support role either.
New coach Carlo Ancelotti made it clear that he didn’t want to start the new season with Gotze in his squad. He spelt out his intentions to Gotze in a phone call before officially taking up his position. Thomas Muller and Douglas Costa would be preferred in the supplier positions while the Italian intended to field three more players in the midfield. Gotze was going to be squeezed out.
Bayern were unhappy that Gotze issued a stay-and-fight pledge through the media in May when it had been made clear to him that he should find another club. He changed agents amid reported interest from former mentor Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. The Reds though backed away as they felt Gotze was keeping them merely as a back-up option in case his preferred choices failed to materialise.
And after another summer of under-performance – this time at the European Championship for Germany – a return to Dortmund is about as good as it could get for Gotze.
The man who scored the goal to win the 2014 World Cup has endured a nightmare two years since then. Injuries have robbed him of potential minutes on the field; he missed the period from October to February last season for Bayern, by the end of which Guardiola had neither the time nor inclination to integrate him into the starting XI. Even when fit, he could not turn Pep’s head.
He played no part in the Champions League semi-finals against Atletico Madrid. Similarly, he didn’t play in the DFB Pokal final against Dortmund. When push came to shove, he didn’t convince. But now he’s got another chance. As far as falls from grace go, a move from the Bundesliga’s best team to the Bundesliga’s second best team it is a pretty soft landing.
"When I moved from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern in 2013 it was a conscious decision. I will not hide behind this today," he wrote on Facebook. "Three years later and at the age of 24, I look on this decision with a different view. I can understand that many fans could not understand my decision. I would not make the same one today. Now, when I return to my home, I want to try to convince people with my performances – especially those who will not receive me with open arms. My aim is to play my best football again."
Henrikh Mkhitaryan was signed as Gotze’s replacement when he departed for Bayern and now he returns to take the Armenian’s place in the team. It is a very different landscape at Westfalenstadion these days. Dortmund have been through hell and back since Gotze left. Klopp burned out and left. They languished outside the Champions League places. They lost Lewandowski and more.
He returns to a much-changed team but one overloaded with potential. New signings like Emre Mor and Ousmane Dembele are now the top young European talent – much like Gotze was when he broke through. He has got to convince Thomas Tuchel of his ability and his fitness and will not earn a place in the team solely on the basis of his reputation.
Perhaps, most importantly, he has got to win the fans back. He was described as a “Judas” and a “traitor” when he upped sticks three years ago and at a recent league game the supporters in the south curve held aloft a banner with the message “Piss Off Gotze”. Huge swathes of the support did not want him back, ever. However, if he gets off to a flyer, all will be forgiven.
This is a golden opportunity for the one-time golden boy of German football. He must take it.
- Goal