In an ideal world, club loyalty and sympathy would be the two major factors in the selection of clubs by professional footballers. The idea is beautiful and romantic, but not real in professional football.
The jersey doesn’t make a club legend
Perhaps Union Berlin will actually qualify for the Champions League this season and Max Kruse will miss out on unforgettable international evenings at the Alte Försterei. Maybe the top striker will destroy this dream with his departure because he was indispensable for the Berliners.
But that’s how it is, the “business of professional football”. Merely belonging to the club 1. FC Union Berlin does not turn an employee who wears a shirt into a forever loyal club legend.
At least honestly: It’s about the money
Employee Kruse, as he says himself, expects significantly more money in Wolfsburg and is also quite certain to have a place in the top eleven. The offer is “long-term and highly endowed”, he is quoted on the Union club website. It doesn’t bring Kruse any sympathy bonus, but it’s definitely honest that he makes no secret of the financial motives in his statement about the transfer.
None of this comes as a surprise anyway, given his career path. Five changes in the last seven years speak for themselves. Kruse remains true to himself – and he probably doesn’t even have to change his place of residence for the transfer to the city with a good ICE connection.
“Max Kruses” are everywhere
The now 33-year-old accepts that this transfer does relatively little for the image of the profession. He probably doesn’t even care. There are Max Kruses in every club and in the majority – they leave when there is a change “the next step”looking for one “new sporting perspective” – most of the time it’s all about money.
That’s the way it is. Max Kruse is gone, now has almost ten different professional stations behind him. In the future, the jersey will no longer be red, but green. He accepts an offer – the releasing and receiving club agree – that’s all. What’s the fuss?
Status: 01/31/2022, 13:10