Borussia Mönchengladbach: Stefan Lainer with the prospect of a new contract

After cancer

The 107th Bundesliga game was a very special one for Stefan Lainer. “I had been looking forward to the kick-off all day. It was very liberating and an extremely nice feeling,” said the Borussia Mönchengladbach full-back on Saturday evening. The 31-year-old is apparently about to extend his contract on the Lower Rhine, which expires in the summer.

Lainer was in the starting line-up for the Foals for the first time in the 5-2 (2-0) home win against VfL Bochum, around seven months after being diagnosed with lymph node cancer. “It feels incredible. Physically I felt in tip top shape and that’s really wonderful,” the Austrian said afterwards on the TV channel “Sky”. The Salzburg native had already celebrated his comeback in the Bundesliga on January 21st with a short appearance against FC Augsburg. Almost four weeks later, the starting eleven returned because the Gladbachers were missing a full-back against Bochum after Luca Netz was unavailable. “Stevie’s values ​​in training have improved in the last two or three weeks,” said coach Gerardo Seoane, explaining the personnel.

Borussia Mönchengladbach: Virkus confirms negotiations with Lainer

And the coach praised: “I’m pleased that he played from the start after his long absence and put in a very good performance.” How long will Lainer, whose name was shouted particularly loudly by the fans when the team line-up was read out, for Borussia plays, is open. With a market value of 3 million euros, he is one of the most valuable Bundesliga players with an expiring contract.

Sports director Roland Virkus confirmed on Saturday that negotiations had begun. “We’re in good discussions, but Stevie said: ‘I want to play now and prove to myself that I have the fitness I had before I got sick.’ And we respect that.” Lainer himself was very satisfied with the effort on Saturday, with one small caveat: “The two goals we conceded upset me a bit, but otherwise it went perfectly.”

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