Borussia Mönchengladbach have announced that captain Lars Stindl will leave the club at the end of the season deciding against extending his contract.
In a video posted on Twitter, Stindl said: “I have given a lot of thought in the last few weeks and have come to the decision to go back to my homeland. This was always the original plan, but this incredible club with all its people, employees, my teammates over all these years and above all this incredible positive encouragement from all Borussia fans, plus the fact of how comfortable we feel on the Lower Rhine, have shaken all this. Nevertheless, I believe that the time has soon come for something new in my life.” The 34-year-old added: “My time at Borussia was the most beautiful of my life, and I will never forget that to this club. I am incredibly grateful to all these great people I was allowed to meet around the club and our place of residence in the last almost eight years, as well as all the Borussia fans. That’s why it’s important to blew everything in again in the next few weeks, because the last impression remains.”
Sporting director Roland Virkus also spoke on the club captain’s departure in the summer: “In the trusting and intensive discussions with Lars, we quickly realized that he was not a purely sporting decision. It was clear that you would give such a deserved player as much time as possible. Lars has now made a decision that we totally respect, but also regret. At some point, melancholy will arise, but first we will focus on the upcoming common tasks.”
Stindl joined Gladbach in 2015 from Hannover 96 for €3m. The 34-year-old has gone on to make 264 appearances for Gladbach scoring 80 goals and assisting 61 as well. His time at Gladbach saw him called up to the Germany squad for the 2017 Confederations Cup where he became top goalscorer as Germany won the competition.
From Stindl’s quote in the video as well as the rumours surrounding his departure, it is likely that he will return to the club where he began his career, SC Karlsruher. Stindl left Karlsruhe back in 2010 where he joined Hannover on a free transfer.
Stindl is the first Gladbach play to be confirmed to leave the club at the end of the season. Marcus Thuram and Ramy Bensebaini are all set to leave the club in the summer when their contracts expire.
GGFN | Jack Meenan
