For months, the future of star Center Back Nico Schlotterbeck was a major talking point at Borussia Dortmund. Even though the German defender finally agreed to sign a contract extension, it did not make the BVB faithful happy.
In April, Schlotterbeck extended his contract until 2031; the previous one was set to expire in 2027, but it included a release clause. The German international's new deal features a reported annual base salary of around €10 million and an exit clause valid for select clubs, ranging from €50 million to €60 million.
The inclusion of the release clause didn’t please the fans, and Schlotterbeck was booed by the spectators. The 26-year-old was asked about the discontent from the fans, and he gave his response per BILD.
"“I didn’t notice the boos before the match at all because I wasn’t out on the pitch yet. I didn’t notice them during the match either; I was only told about them afterwards. Of course, that wasn’t what I’d hoped for. Everyone is free to say what they want. It ended in the last few games. I’ve played very well in my last few matches. I’ve put the whole thing behind me, I’m delighted to have extended my contract, and I’m now looking forward to playing a good World Cup with Germany." "
He also denied the fact that the World Cup will be some kind of showcase in which he will attract the interest of another club.
""What do you mean by ‘showcase’? I play 50 games a year. I think it’s perfectly normal that I always try to play well. Putting myself in the spotlight just for the sake of a World Cup – I don’t really see it that way. Of course, I’m clearly focusing on the World Cup and trying to put in good performances for Germany. That’s why I don’t have any intention of playing particularly well just for the sake of some contract.""said Schlotterbeck
With Ibrahima Konate not renewing his contract and leaving for free in June, Liverpool is one of the clubs that are thought to be interested in Schlotterbeck. Many BVB fans fear that their key starman is about to leave the club after the World Cup.
Even though Schlotterbeck downplayed it, there is enough reason to believe that the bigger European clubs will start expressing interest in him, especially if he manages to impress in the World Cup. This means that BVB will once again have the tough task of replacing a star player and a leader.
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