No chance under Ilzer
© Imago
This text was first published at 2:25 p.m. and was revised after confirming the clubs.
Since Christian Ilzer’s arrival, Florian Grillitsch has been at TSG Hoffenheim without perspective. Now the 30-year-old midfielder has left the Kraichgauer to Europe League participant Sporting Braga. Grillitsch signs a contract with the Portuguese by 2027.
Grillitsch came to TSG Hoffenheim in 2017 from Werder Bremen and was a regular for a long time. In 196 games for the Kraichgauer he came to 26 goal participations. The highlight of his time at TSG was the qualification for the Champions League 2018. This time was interrupted with an intermezzo 2022/23 at Ajax Amsterdam. Ilzer sorted the Austrian out in November because he was not compatible with the type of football. In the second half of the season he was awarded to Real Valladolid, with which he descended from Laliga.
In addition to Braga, a Bundesliga club and a Spanish club are said to have been interested in Grillitsch, according to “kicker”, but they did not play European. According to the magazine, the 53-time national player in Austria maintained a steady exchange with national coach Ralf Rangnick, who is said to have advised him. The 67-year-old is considered his great supporter, also because he continued to nominate him despite the difficult phase last season. The big goal is the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
The TSG leaves Grillitsch, the working paper of which is still valid until 2026. In Braga, he will compete with ex-Schalke Rodrigo Zalazar and PSG loan Gabriel Moscardo.