It’s a switch that’s making worldwide headlines: From the German newspaper Bild to the Italian sports activities bible “Gazzetta dello Sport” the dedication of Jerome Boateng (35) at LASK. A world champion (2014 with Germany), two-time Champions League winner (2013, 2020) and nine-time German champion, however above all a long-standing main participant at FC Bayern Munich, for whom Boateng performed 363 aggressive matches. 76 of them had been for the German nationwide soccer workforce.
One is the sporting facet, the opposite is the personal vita that has discovered its method into the general public eye. In September 2021, the Berlin native was sentenced to a effective within the first occasion for bodily hurt to his former associate. The decision has since been overturned on account of procedural errors, the trial is being reopened and is scheduled to begin once more in mid-June.
Additionally it is well-known within the media that the 2 youngsters from their relationship, in addition to Boateng’s third baby, have at all times lived with him and proceed to take action, regardless of the pending court docket proceedings.
There have been additionally headlines surrounding the suicide of Kasia Lenhardt (February 2021), an ex-girlfriend of Boateng, which led to discussions throughout Germany regarding cyberbullying and the function of the tabloid media.
FC Bayern determined towards signing him within the autumn of final 12 months, in all probability on account of a fan rebellion. Even following the LASK switch, opinions ranged from “sensational” to “we should not signal somebody like him”.
LASK has not commented on the personal circumstances. It may be assumed that the membership is properly conscious of those and has mentioned them intimately. What is definite is that there was sufficient time to consider all of the circumstances, because the black and whites have truly been making an attempt to signal the central defender for a number of months. With round 9.6 million followers on Instagram alone, Jerome Boateng is in a very completely different league.
The sporting optimum
When it comes to sport, he had lately missed a recreation for the Italian Serie A membership Salernitana on account of minor muscular issues. “Nothing severe,” was additionally confirmed by fellow journalists from Italy.
At FC Bayern, the place Boateng was an possibility in 2023 on account of a personnel scarcity, the bodily stats had been reportedly glorious. It goes with out saying that gamers on this class are typically solely signed following a medical examine.
As an athlete, Boateng has at all times made essentially the most of his profession. Manchester Metropolis paid 15 million euros in 2020 to signal him from Hamburger SV. FC Bayern put the identical quantity on the desk a 12 months later to carry him once more to Germany.
Anybody who has achieved a lot in soccer nonetheless receives prime monetary provides, particularly outdoors of Europe, even on the age of 35, however these would in all probability have been much less suitable with the household state of affairs.
“He has made large monetary concessions to us. In any other case his signing wouldn’t have been doable,” reported LASK managing director Siegmund Gruber in a membership assertion. Boateng (contract till 2026) is trying ahead to his new problem: “I’m stuffed with power and need to use my expertise to assist take the subsequent steps.”
You’ll have to be ready for (much more) headwinds, particularly in unfamiliar stadiums.
Creator
Harald Bartl
Deputy Head of Sports activities Division
Harald Bartl
