Football – Schalke Matip goes to Liverpool – Heldt: pain threshold – Süddeutsche.de

Direct from the dpa news channel

Gelsenkirchen (AP) – FC Schalke 04 has lost the battle for the whereabouts of Joel Matip. The 24-year-old defender leaves the Bundesliga club in the summer and joins Liverpool with coach Jürgen Klopp. There he is to sign reportedly a four-year contract.

“We have gone to the threshold of pain. But for Joel it was a decision of principle, after 16 years of time to do at Schalke something new and get to know another country” commented Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt on Monday the changes, which had long been signed.

since the contract of center-back runs with the Royal Blues in the summer, Matip free transfer to English Premier League club. He is the first Bundesliga player, the former coach of Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund brings to the island after his move. For Matip of change in England Beletage is the next step up the career ladder

“I’ve always said that I would take from Schalke for one reason only farewell.. To get to know something new came Therefore a move within the Bundesliga never for me into consideration. I am convinced that now the time is right to take this step, “the technically well-trained and aerially strong defender who is considered Klopp desire player.

Since May last year Heldt had tried in many conversations, Matip to move to stay – in vain: “It was clear that factors would be decisive for Joel’s decision we ultimately could not influence,” said Heldt. Last is to have its offer for the defender greatly improved reportedly again Schalke.

Unlike Benedikt Höwedes, who had extended the previous week by 2020, failed Heldt to convince Matip. “Coal goes, buddy remains” the captain had commented proudly just a week before his whereabouts.

For Schalke the departure Matip is a bitter loss. And in contrast to the transfer of Julian Draxler last summer, who joined for 35 million euros to Wolfsburg, the area Club is not time compensated by a million sum.

Matip was already eight years old when the neighbors VfL Bochum to Schalke where he went through all the youth teams. For the Royal Blues Matip completed a total of 181 Bundesliga matches (17 goals), 44 European Cup games and 16 cup matches. With Schalke he won the 2011 German Cup. In the current season of the national team of Cameroon and World Cup participants came in all 21 Bundesliga encounters in the team from coach André Breitenreiter the full distance to use.

Matip promised until the last day everything for Schalke give. “I was always proud to play for this great club. I will do in the coming months everything possible to get the most out of this season. I am also my fans and the team guilty.”