With Werder since 2019
©IMAGO
It has already been decided that Werder Bremen and Leonardo Bittencourt will go their separate ways in the summer after seven years. But the 32-year-old midfielder could have left the club in the winter, as he revealed in an interview with “Bild”. “I had an offer from Brazil for three years. Marco Friedl, with whom I am very close, said: ‘Stay!'” explained Bittencourt.
Bittencourt, whose father Franklin Bittencourt was born in Rio, did not reveal which club it was about. The Leipzig native initially moved from TSG Hoffenheim to Weser on loan in the summer of 2019 and was signed permanently the following year for 7 million euros – only seven Werder players were more expensive. In 182 games he scored 20 goals and 15 assists. After captain Marco Friedl and Romano Schmid, he is the longest-serving professional in the Werder squad.
The fact that Bittencourt stayed on the Weser was also due to the sporting situation. After Werder ended a winless streak of 13 games with a 2-0 win against bottom team Heidenheim at the weekend, the club is still in the middle of a relegation battle. “I didn’t want to let the boys down in this difficult year, I would have felt uncomfortable doing that,” said Bittencourt. “I’m glad I stayed. It wouldn’t have been a cool departure after seven years. I’ve become a Werder fan during that time.” After 24 match days, the North Germans occupy the relegation spot with 22 points.
After two starting eleven appearances in the DFB Cup and at the start of the Bundesliga season, Bittencourt finds himself in the joker role – if he comes on at all. There are 277 minutes in eleven appearances. Nevertheless, his experience means he has a lot of influence on his teammates. “The more you play, the more influence you have. But I notice that the boys continue to come to me. They seek advice because they get an honest opinion from me. I am also one of the first points of contact for the captain. I also have a lot of exchanges with Clemens.” It is not yet known what will happen next in the summer.
