Raphael Guerreiro announced his departure from BVB on Sunday evening. Sports director Sebastian Kehl has now revealed why Borussia Dortmund could not keep the top performer.
BVB fans have had certainty for a few days: In the 2023/2024 season, Raphael Guerreiro will no longer wear the jersey of the runner-up.
“After seven great years, it’s time for me to say goodbye with a lot of sadness,” wrote the Portuguese on Instagram. He did not say where he is going. FC Bayern and Atlético Madrid, among others, are said to be interested.
In an interview with “Bild”, Dortmund’s sports director Sebastian Kehl spoke in detail for the first time about the circumstances of the separation, which had caused incomprehension among many fans.
“We made Rapha an economically improved offer for two years plus an option. The talks were always fair and correct. We would have liked to keep him, but in the end we didn’t get together,” said the former Borussia captain.
Kehl continued: “Again we have a clear plan, a direction, because Rapha is turning 30 and wanted a longer contract.”
BVB: Guerreiro’s boxes have long since been packed
The end of the collaboration is not all that surprising. Pictures recently circulated online that showed Guerreiro packing boxes.
The 2016 European champion played for the black and yellow for a total of seven seasons and was one of the longest-serving players in the professional squad.
The left-footed player has played a total of 162 Bundesliga games for BVB, scoring 30 goals. The noble technician mostly played as a left-back, but was increasingly placed in midfield by head coach Edin Terzic in the past season.