Lothar Matthaus, former captain of the German national team, urged his compatriot Niko Schlotterbeck, Borussia Dortmund defender, to quickly make a decision regarding his future with the team.
In a statement to Sky, Matthews said: “It is time to set a final date, because Schlotterbeek is an important player, and we do not want to put pressure on him, and Sebastian Kehl performed well, but it is time to make a decision.”
Matthews stressed: “Things must become clear before the World Cup. This is an important step for the club and the national team.”
Borussia Dortmund is seeking to renew Schlotterbeck’s contract, which will expire in the summer of 2027, in an attempt to secure his stay with the team.
However, if an agreement is not reached, next summer may be the last opportunity for the club to benefit financially from his sale.
For his part, Schlotterbeck denied rumors about the imminent renewal of his contract, and explained that his situation changed after the departure of sporting director Kiel and the assumption of responsibility by Uli Bock.
He pointed out that he was “close to making his decision during the recent period, but recent developments have made the matter indecisive at the present time.”
On the other hand, Lars Ricken, managing director of sports at Dortmund, explained that Schlotterbeck’s statements were “understandable,” and stressed that the club’s goal is to retain his services “for many years,” and that they will continue to work to achieve this.
