Has he already worn the Borussia jersey for the last time? Manu Koné, here on May 11, 2024, will be appearing on the big stage this summer.
Copyright: IMAGO/Nordphoto
The Gladbach bosses did not want to deny him this opportunity – especially since there is something to be gained for all sides.
When the team of coach Gerardo Seoane (45) meets on July 10, 2024 to start training for the upcoming season, three professionals will be missing. In addition to European Championship rider Nico Elvedi (27), who is currently still playing for Switzerland, and right-back Joe Scally (21, with the USA at the Copa America), Manu Kone (23) will not be at Borussia Park – he will even miss the entire preparation.
Borussia Mönchengladbach: Koné first to the Olympics, then the sale?
Because France’s U23 national coach Thierry Henry (46) has named Koné in the provisional squad for the Olympic football tournament, the midfielder will not be with the Foals, but with the Équipe Tricolore.
Koné will only be able to take part in the Summer Games in Paris (26 July to 11 August), the 23-year-old’s hometown, because Borussia Mönchengladbach has expressly given him permission to do so. There is no obligation for clubs to send players to the football tournament, which is not organised by FIFA.
At the beginning of the year, Koné said that it would be an absolute dream for him to play for his country at the Olympics in Paris and hoped that VfL would not put any obstacles in his way.
In conversation with the “Bild” Sports director Roland Virkus (57) explains why the club decided to send Koné on the trip instead of preparing in Gladbach: “Taking part in the Olympic Games is something special for every athlete. Even more so when the games are taking place in the home country. We definitely want to give Manu this opportunity.”
Before the home games, the French selection will play three test matches. The footballer, who was signed from Toulouse for nine million euros in the summer of 2021, will therefore not be present at Borussia’s start of training, nor at the training camp or the planned pre-season friendlies.
Borussia’s first competitive match will be on August 17 (1 p.m.) against Erzgebirge Aue in the first round of the DFB Cup. Just six days after the last day of competition at the Olympic Games. But this call-up could also have positive consequences for everyone involved.
Koné, who has been considered a candidate for sale for some time, would probably bring in the highest transfer fee in the current Borussia squad if he were transferred. Although the Frenchman’s market value has halved from 40 million euros to 20 million euros, the club in the Lower Rhine region is still hoping for a windfall from a possible sale.
Ideally, the man being courted should then present himself in top form at the Olympic tournament in Paris in order to increase his own price even further and recommend himself for top international clubs.
That’s probably the “best case scenario” – but in the worst case scenario, it’s a horror scenario that some Gladbach fans are already afraid of. An injury on the national team, and Koné seems to be particularly vulnerable to this, could prevent a sale. Then the player’s market value would drop further and he would have to report to Mönchengladbach again without any preparation.
2024-06-29 06:01:00
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