Jérôme Boateng continues his career in Italy. In the meantime there was speculation about a return to FC Bayern. According to him, it wasn’t the coach’s fault that nothing came of it.
Former national player Jérôme Boateng, who is accused in a criminal trial, is convinced that a possible return to FC Bayern in the meantime has not failed because of Thomas Tuchel. “If only Thomas Tuchel had decided, I would be wearing the Bayern jersey today,” said Boateng about the Munich coach in an interview with “Bild am Sonntag”. “He was the driving force behind my commitment to Munich and the opportunity to keep fit there. I can only thank him.”
Boateng, who signed with US Salernitana in Italy this week, trained with Bayern last fall as an independent professional. Because of the defensive personnel concerns, the recall campaign was discussed. “But then it was said that the squad was well enough staffed,” said Boateng. “At least that’s what I was told.” He has now been welcomed “warmly and friendly” at his new club in Serie A.
Protests against Boateng’s change
Boateng has recently been in the public eye less because of his sporting career, but primarily as a private citizen. The 2014 world champion is facing a new criminal trial in Bavaria because he is accused of attacking his then partner and mother of his children while on vacation in the summer of 2018.
That’s why the footballer was sentenced in the second instance to a fine of 1.2 million euros for bodily harm and insult – but the Bavarian Higher Regional Court overturned this judgment and sent the case back to the Munich I Regional Court. The case is therefore being reopened. Boateng complained about an unfair trial and a prior conviction. “I just say: For me, the presumption of innocence applies completely,” said Boateng in the “Bild am Sonntag” interview.
After the announced move to the Italian first division club, a number of fans expressed criticism of Boateng’s commitment. For example, the Nuremberg women’s team’s X account posted a picture of Boateng’s ex-girlfriend Kasia Lenhardt, who took her own life in February 2021. The post received a lot of attention and was liked more than 46,000 times. A number of users joined in and posted a picture of Lenhardt