Sommer’s successor: Omlin on “back and forth” before the Gladbach transfer

Summer successor at Gladbach

Goalkeeper Jonas Omlin gave an insight into the tough transfer poker surrounding his move from Montpellier HSC to Borussia Mönchengladbach. The 29-year-old Swiss was signed by the “foals” for around 9 million euros as a replacement for Yann Sommer (34), who had switched to FC Bayern. “It was a back and forth,” Omlin summarized the situation in an interview with the “View” together. Several rounds of negotiations were necessary to get the deal across the finish line. The problem: Gladbach only wanted to let Sommer move to Munich when a suitable replacement could be found. And Montpellier actually intended not to release Omlin until it could find a solution of its own.

“But my position was always: If Gladbach gets me, Yann can go to Bayern. I spoke to several people at the club: the president clearly said no. The head of sport said that one could imagine finding a replacement. As clearly as I was told that day that I would not be sold, it was logical for me to stay with Montpellier. I felt like it was over. And it shouldn’t be the only time I felt that way,” Omlin said with a laugh.

The goalkeeper, who wanted to change scenery after “privately not easy two and a half years” in France, was told by Montpellier’s bosses “that they had tried everything, but that Bayern and Gladbach would not agree. That’s when I thought for the second time that the deal is dead. But then apparently a new offer from Bayern came on the table.” In the end, Munich transferred EUR 8 million to Mönchengladbach for the summer, with a further EUR 1.5 million in bonus payments possible.

Goalkeeper Omlin and Sommer were “of course more between chair and bench”

In view of the imponderables, he did not sit on packed suitcases “at all”, said Omlin and added with a laugh: “At some point it got too stupid for me to keep packing and unpacking. No, seriously, I also had to concentrate and do my job during this time. Montpellier is in the middle of a relegation battle, the results weren’t right at all. I then said: ‘I’ll pack if you really tell me that I have to go.’” He exchanged views with compatriot Sommer, after all it was “a real up and down” for both main protagonists of the deal.

community
All topics related to Borussia M’gladbachHave your say now!
“Sometimes happiness, sometimes disappointments. We sent each other Whatsapp texts and voice messages. But of course we were more between chair and bench, mostly it’s done through the consultants. Sometimes it almost gave the impression that the media were better informed than I was,” Omlin explained – and gave an example: “When I got the rejection from Montpellier on Sunday and then I read on Monday that it was far from over. A lot of what was reported happened that way. It was fascinating how it all went.”

To home page