In the summer, FC Schalke 04 had vacant posts as coach and goalkeeper. Now it has become known: The Royal Blues could have signed goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, who ultimately switched to Manchester City, but had to find another solution on the coaching chair.
Before the new season, Stefan Ortega left Bundesliga relegated Arminia Bielefeld and surprisingly joined English champions Manchester City.
Because of his strong performance, many Bundesliga clubs were interested in Ortega, but got nothing – including FC Schalke 04.
But in courting for the free transfer Ortega, the Royal Blues apparently almost got ahead of Pep Guardiola’s team.
Was FC Schalke 04 “relatively far” with Stefan Ortega?
“If my sources are right, then Ortega could have been signed in the summer. It was all relatively far with Schalke,” said “Sky” journalist Yannick Erkenbrecher on the talk show “Sky Corner – Your Football Evening”.
According to him, however, a change failed because Frank Kramer filled the vacant coaching position. “Stefan Ortega then said: ‘It didn’t work with the coach in Bielefeld. I don’t want to do that again’,” continued Erkenbrecher.
Around Kramer’s dismissal in Bielefeld in April there were rumors of dissonance between the coach and leading players, including Ortega.
In retrospect, the decision for Kramer and against Ortega was a big mistake by those responsible for Schalke.
Alexander Schwolow without a future at FC Schalke 04
Because neither the coach nor Alexander Schwolow, who was brought in as the new number one on loan from Hertha BSC, could not convince.
While Kramer is already history again and has been replaced on the sidelines by Thomas Reis, Schwolow is said to have no future at Schalke beyond the end of his loan.
For Ortega, on the other hand, things are going well in England far away from the S04 crisis.
The 29-year-old signed a contract with City until 2025. During this time, he is said to have received a princely salary of ten million euros. Despite his role as backup goalkeeper, Ortega has already made two appearances in the Champions League.