The first decision made: Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt started with newcomer Jonathan Burkardt and Hugo Ekitiké, which is hotly traded on the transfer market, in the season preparation.
53 days after moving into the Champions League, the rental returners Hrvoje Smolcic and Aurelio Buta were also on the pitch.
The U21 European Championship finalists Ansgar Knauff, Namdi Collins, Nathaniel Brown and Elias Baum lacked the first training session on the lawn as well as the international Robin Koch or Rasmus.
Mario Götze and Tuta turned individually after injuries. “I immediately felt that the boys are hot,” said technical director Pirmin Schwegler in the Eintracht Livestream: “The vacation was a long time when some are burning the new season. We have a lot plans and everyone came back with great anticipation and pleasure.”
Because of the concert of the band Linkin Park set for the evening in the Deutsche Bank Park, the training start with 21 players took place without spectators this year, only media representatives were approved.
Eintracht Frankfurt wants 100 million for Hugo Ekitiké
The professionals had already completed performance tests on Monday and Tuesday. There was no longer an attacker Igor Matanovic, whose transfer to league competitor SC Freiburg was officially announced on Wednesday morning.
The Frankfurters will play the first test game on July 19 against FSV Frankfurt. From July 22nd to August 3rd, the US tour with games against Aston Villa, Louisville City FC and Philadelphia Union will take place.
After the return, FC Fulham is still going on before the competitive game in the DFB Cup against FV Engers is due on August 17th. The Hesse play against Werder Bremen for the Bundesliga start a week later.
It seems open whether Ekitiké will still be there after his outstanding pre -season. Several financially strong clubs from the Premier League are said to be interested in the Frenchman, the SGE is probably in charge of a possible transfer in the range of up to 100 million euros.
With Burkardt, Frankfurt had already signed a potential replacement for a rained 23 million euros from Mainz the previous week.