Go to the agency “Sports360”
The first version of this article was published on September 7th, 2023 at 11:10 a.m. and was updated with statements by Baku.
Right-back Ridle Baku has had a difficult time at VfL Wolfsburg recently: when VfL won in Cologne on Matchday 2, the 25-year-old was not in coach Niko Kovac’s starting line-up for the first time since April – it was also enough for him against Hoffenheim four-time national player only 22 minutes from the bench. He now denied a request to manager Marcel Schäfer shortly before the transfer deadline. Apparently he wanted a last-minute move to Benfica Lisbon, but it fell through. The fact that Baku changed the consulting agency shortly afterwards seemed to support the scenario.
“I wasn’t in Marcel Schäfer’s office to talk to him shortly before the transfer deadline,” Baku now assured the “table football“. However, he did not want to comment further on transfer rumors. He said: “I have not commented on such things in the past – and will not now. All I can say is: I feel comfortable in Wolfsburg and want to achieve something with VfL.”
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The Mainz native is now being represented by the agency “Sports360 GmbH”, whose clients include BVB professional Niklas Süle, Leipzig’s Timo Werner and Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos. Baku was previously a protégé of “Aka Global” and a subject at “Rogon”, this is his second agency change since the summer of 2022. “I always try to optimize everything, it’s an ongoing process,” said Baku, explaining the consultant swap. “No matter whether it’s about areas such as nutrition, regeneration, fitness or other topics.”
Benfica Lisbon is said to have been interested in loaning the homegrown Mainz player – Baku’s contract with Lower Saxony is dated until 2025. From the Portuguese’s point of view, a possible deal should also include a purchase option for the right-footed player, who reportedly proactively sought a conversation with “Wolves” sports director Schäfer shortly before deadline day, which Baku denied. What worked on August 12th was the signing of Joakim Maehle (26) from Atalanta Bergamo for 12 million euros. The Danish international has been a full-back since then and is a competitor for Baku.
In the past three seasons, Baku was absolutely set on Wolfsburg’s defensive wing and hardly missed a game. In addition to Benfica, FC Torino are said to have put out feelers to Baku in the summer. Baku’s market value has fallen continuously over the past two seasons to currently EUR 13 million: he had reached his former career high of EUR 25 million in the first year after his EUR 10 million move from Mainz to the Autostadt.
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