Mario Gotze Returns to Dortmund

When a new manager arrives at a high profile club all players hope they are given an opportunity to prove that they belong in the club’s future.

For Mario Gotze that opportunity did not come.

New Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti, appointed in December, decided before the season was over that the 2014 World Cup winning goal scorer was not in his plans.

Fate is an ironic thing as Bayern Munich had purchased the player prior to the 2013 UEFA Champions League between Borussia Dortmund and the Bavarians for a record 37 million euros. This was done prior to Pep Guardiola taking the helm. Acquired without his consent.

During his time at Bayern Munich Gotze made 114 appearances in all competitions scoring 36 all the while winning three Bundesliga titles and two DFB Pokal’s.

In 2015-16 the appearances were hampered by both injury and falling down the pecking order as Pep Guardiola had players he not only preferred but still had a lingering thoughts and feelings in regard to how the transfer went about.

Looking at the transfer itself, being announced prior to the first ever all-German Champions League final it rubbed many on the squad of Borussia Dortmund, including their fans, the wrong way.

Part of it was the fact that Mats Hummels had called out the player for club disloyalty at the time as the club was on a good run of form winning two Bundesliga titles and one DFB Pokal.

The ironic thing is after a season where Dortmund fell in not only the Bundesliga at the final turn, finalist against Bayern in the DFB Pokal, and a climatic end to a Europa League run to Liverpool Hummels called it quits. Ya he is going to Munich.

Funny how things can happen.

But for a player who can claim to have scored the winning goal in a World Cup Final there is a hard road ahead.

Gotze has to prove to the BVB fans that his exit is behind him and that he is dedicated to the cause.

At present moment how he fits in with Thomas Tuchel is the question.

So lets all tune into Fox and watch the Bundesliga to find out.