1. FC Köln: Baumgart complains about the leak before Modeste’s BVB change

FC agreed with Dortmund

For the second time he was close to being a legend, for the second time Anthony Modeste left 1. FC Köln with loud discord. On Sunday, the club had to announce at the worst time for coach Steffen Baumgart that an agreement had been reached with BVB. Baumgart scolded. And then the alleged affiliation contract with FC comes into focus.

At first, the jubilation about the opening win had pushed the anger about Anthony Modeste’s change into the background. But about an hour after the final whistle, Baumgart still let his emotions run free. After the 3-1 (0-0) win against newly promoted FC Schalke 04, the FC coach got upset about the point in time at which Modeste’s move to Borussia Dortmund was leaked – and also used one or the other expletive.

“The fact that it comes out today on the day of the game is what pisses me off,” said Baumgart at the press conference. “It also has to do with fair play that you keep it under the cover and don’t talk big. That’s what pisses me off,” he explained. “So we got into a difficult situation four hours before the game and I have the arse card because I have a good relationship with Tony personally and have to make the decision to take out the boy who would have liked to play.”

Baumgart: It doesn’t matter who leaked it – focus on the follow-up contract for Modeste

He does not want to judge who released the forthcoming transfer, which is due to be finalized on Monday. “It doesn’t matter whether it came from Tony’s environment, from us or from Dortmund,” said Baumgart: “But I’m relatively sure that it didn’t come from us because we don’t harm ourselves.” He didn’t want to blame anyone , “but it was never one. Still, it comes out. And someone must have been.”

#Baumgart about Modeste’s decision: The business gives it. Already in winter he had a very good offer. We said back then that if an offer like this comes up again, we’ll get together. In terms of sport, it’s not a good decision for us. #KOES04 #effzeh

— 1. FC Cologne (@fckoeln) August 7, 2022

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So far, the media had always reported unchallenged that Modeste had a five-year contract as a youth coach in Cologne for the period after his actual contract ended in 2023. “I’ve also heard a lot about the follow-up contract,” said Christian Keller, FC manager since April. “It looks a bit different afterwards when you’ve read what’s in there.”

The affiliation agreement may only apply if you remain there until then. Basically, Modeste is “an identity figure for 1. FC Köln, and if he wants to come back to FC at some point, then we’ll definitely think about it.”

Keller on Modeste: “You have to ask him why he really wants to do it”

But a return to Cologne will be difficult to convey, because the story about Anthony Modeste and FC is an emotional one. In 2017 he shot Cologne into the Europa League with 25 goals and then moved to China, which many resented. After his return and especially after his sporting rebirth last season, he nevertheless became a fan favorite again.

After he shot FC into the European Cup again with 20 goals and repeatedly declared his love for the club and the city, the fans stormed the field and carried him on their hands. Even if he actually wanted to go to Saudi Arabia in the winter. And even if he always had his advisors on the lookout for alternatives and made no secret of it. “I hope my advisor is active. If I score 20 goals and he’s not active, I have to talk to him,” Modeste explained at the training camp. Nevertheless, he was celebrated at the season opener two weeks ago.

Now he’s leaving again, although BVB probably only gives him a one-year contract. “You have to ask him why he really wants to do that,” said Keller after the 3-1 win in the Bundesliga opener against FC Schalke 04, where Modeste was no longer part of the squad for a short time: “But he can play in the Champions League. And he certainly earns at least no less than at FC.”

Modeste had promised a change from Cologne – Baumgart: “Often annoyed that it was just about him”

Despite the outstanding previous season, little was done there to keep the sensitive striker. “We’ve got our hands on it. He has a contract and if we don’t agree there will be no transfer,” said Keller. Nevertheless, FC reportedly accepted a transfer fee of around 5 million plus the salary savings. Probably because Modeste was no longer believed to be in Cologne. Certainly also because the club depends on transfer income. Officially, however, mainly because of the history after the FC rejected the offer from Saudi Arabia in winter.

“Shortly after I came, I found out that there was a clear commitment: If something comes up again, you’re ready to talk,” said Keller. “The statement did not come from me, but of course it also applies to me.” All in all, according to the managing director, there were “a relatively large number of reasons that spoke in favor of agreeing to the transfer. And relatively few who spoke out against it.”

Coach Steffen Baumgart now wants to create a defiant reaction in his team. “It annoyed me a lot over the past year that it was all about him,” he said. “We will not argue away that we will certainly miss him in one situation or another just because we won without him. But we are now walking the path with people who want to walk it 100 percent. We came through the collective last year and we’ll do the same this year.” FC had a total of 30 shots on target against Schalke – more than in any game with Modeste last season.

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