Borussia Dortmund legend Mats Hummels has departed the club on a free transfer following an apparent confrontation with Edin Terzic.
- Hummels leaves Dortmund on free transfer
- Had been critical of Terzic publicly
- Now on the lookout for next club
WHAT HAPPENED?
Terzic himself left Dortmund on Thursday and he has now been followed out the door by the defender. It’s been reported in Germany that the pair were involved in a heated confrontation ahead of the Champions League final, where BVB were beaten 2-0 by Real Madrid at Wembley.
WHAT DORTMUND SAID
The club confirmed their second, high-profile exit in as many days on social media, writing: “Borussia Dortmund and Mats Hummels will part ways. The German defender has spent more than thirteen years at the club and left a significant mark having won two Bundesliga titles and DFB-Pokals with the club among numerous other achievements. We are grateful for the successful run we had together.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
In the lead up to the final, Hummels had been critical of Terzic’s methods. “I was furious because I was of the opinion that Borussia Dortmund shouldn’t play like that – against any opponent in the world,” he said last month. “I didn’t think it could go on like this. I felt insulted in my honour to stand on the pitch in that kit. So submissive, so inferior in footballing terms. The two Stuttgart games and the away game in Leverkusen. That was barricading with 11 men in the box.”
It’s understood that these comments angered Terzic, with the duo having a fiery discussion just days before the showpiece event at Wembley.
WHAT NEXT?
It had been suggested that Hummels might sign a new contract if Terzic was relieved of his post. However, he will now be on the lookout for his next club. He should have no shortage of offers, having played a key role in Dortmund’s Champions League campaign this season. Despite that, he was not included in Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad for Euro 2024.
