Trouble at VfB Stuttgart: An alleged interview by Orel Mangala with a Belgian newspaper makes waves. In this, the 24-year-old midfielder bluntly expresses his desire to change – right?
Although Orel Mangala is currently with the Belgian national team instead of in the country, he is the number one topic of conversation around VfB Stuttgart.
Among other things, the Belgian daily newspaper Het Nieuwsblad quotes the professional, who is still contractually bound until 2024, as saying “In summer it can actually be time for a change of air” – a statement that should not have gone down well with the Swabians.
Especially since Mangala in the same breath raved about the “biggest clubs in Europe” that were interested in him. He’s looking for “a nice sporting project. I want to join a club where I can develop further,” says the right-footer, who won the German A-Junior Championship in 2017 with BVB’s U19s.
VfB Stuttgart: Statements by Orel Mangala allegedly “stunk and lied”
However, the question now is whether Mangala has really been that candid about his future plans.
He never claims to have made the statements quoted by “Het Nieuwsblad”. “It’s all bogus and a lie. Orel feels at home with VfB and has a two-year contract. We respect that,” Mangala’s advisor rumbled to Mehmet Eser “Image”.
And the native of Brussels himself spoke up in an interview with the tabloid. “I love the fans and I’m happy at VfB. I’ll do everything to ensure that we stay in the top division. Because that’s where VfB belongs. That’s my focus at the moment,” said Mangala.
According to “Bild”, the player side is now even considering taking legal action against the Belgian medium.