Gelsenkirchen (dpa) – FC Schalke 04 does not take the purchase option for one of its best players of the past promotion season. The defensive man and Japanese national player Ko Itakura, loaned from Manchester City, is too expensive for the Bundesliga soccer team.
“In terms of sport, there are no two opinions: Ko was one of the outstanding players last season,” said sports director Rouven Schröder, according to the club’s announcement. “We would have liked to see him as part of our Bundesliga team, but unfortunately this was not possible for financial reasons.” According to media reports, Itakura would have cost between five and six million euros.
The 25-year-old, who played as a central defender and defensive midfielder, made 31 second division appearances for Schalke, scoring four goals. “I had a great desire to continue playing at Schalke and will miss everyone there very much,” Itakura is quoted as saying by the club. “But I understand the basic framework underlying the decision.”