Real Madrid transfer blow as major target set for new contract
Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck has been a prime target for Real Madrid, but looks set to extend his stay at Signal Iduna Park.
Nico Schlotterbeck’s future appears to be becoming clearer. According to Bild, the German center-back - who has been a transfer target for Real Madrid - is now very close to signing a contract extension with Borussia Dortmund. That would remove another defensive option from the Spanish giants’ radar, after Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano also chose to stay on in the Bundesliga.
“The face of a new era”
“I’m absolutely convinced [Schlotterbeck] will remain at Borussia Dortmund,” the player’s agent, Matthias Sammer, told Sky on Monday. “This team is defined by its eras, and a new one is on the horizon. The club is going through some changes right now, and Schlotterbeck can become the face of a new era.”
Schlotterbeck’s new contract - the details:
A player who has attracted interest from several major European clubs, the 26‑year‑old is set to extend his Dortmund deal through 2031 and earn an improved salary of €14 million (just over $16 million) per year, according to Bild. BVB’s leadership expect the Germany international to give the club the definitive thumbs-up after the upcoming international break.
Dortmund’s recent exits from both the Champions League and the DFB-Pokal had raised concerns that one of the team’s unquestioned leaders might look for the exit.
But the prospect of captaining the club’s new project - along with a substantial pay rise - appears to have convinced Schlotterbeck to remain at Signal Iduna Park. This, despite strong interest from European heavyweights like Madrid.
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