MARIO GOTZE’S sad end to his Borussia Dortmund career has got worse after he beat Arsenal target Philippe Coutinho in a brutal players’ poll to find the Bundesliga’s biggest “disappointment”.
Dortmund are offloading World Cup-winning striker Gotze as his contract ends this summer following a dramatic slump in form since returning from Bayern Munich four years ago.
Mario Gotze faces an undignified exit at Borussia Dortmund after rejecting a pay cut and topping a player poll for biggest “disappointment”
Philippe Coutinho was fifth on the list of flops, as voted for by Bundesliga stars, but is again being linked with Arsenal
And having won Bundesliga crowns, the 28-year-old has now finished off with a domestic nomination he certainly did not want.
German top-flight players put Gotze way ahead of his rivals on 30% in their list of flops.
Bayern keeper Alex Nuebel was next on 11.5%, ahead of Botafogo’s ex-Hertha Berlin and Chelsea wideman Salomon Kalou, Schalke frontman Guido Burgstaller and Barcelona‘s Bayern loanee Coutinho, with 3.7%.
Gotze was a key man when Germany won the ultimate prize six years ago.
But his form faltered and in 2016 he was diagnosed with a muscular disorder called myopathy.
Nonetheless, even Arsenal have been mentioned in the past as potential Premier League suitors for the 63-cap star.
And with Barca reportedly interested in swapping Coutinho for outcast Gunners’ midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, Gotze will surely be mentioned in Prem circles again if his wage demands are realistic.
The Bundesliga poll did, though, offer encouraging news for Chelsea over new signing Timo Werner and Manchester United for pursuing England attacker Jadon Sancho.
Although Robert Lewandowski dominated the “best outfield player” category on 42.6%, Sancho was second on 14.1% and Werner fifth on 2.5%.
The most emphatic win came in the world’s “best trainer” section, where Liverpool’s title-winning boss Jurgen Klopp scored 74.8%, ahead of second-placed Manchester City chief Pep Guardiola on 13%.
And there was also a landslide success for the Prem itself, rated by 74.4% as the word’s top league, compared to a vote of 17.8% for the Bundesliga.
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By: Ian Tuckey
Title: Gotze voted Bundesliga’s ‘biggest disappointment’ ahead of Coutinho by fellow pros as Dortmund career comes to sad end
Sourced From: www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/12175085/gotze-coutinho-dortmund-arsenal-bundesliga-poll/
Published Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2020 16:30:28 +0000
