MARIO GOTZE’S sad end to his Borussia Dortmund career just got that bit worse.
The World Cup winner beat Arsenal target Philippe Coutinho in a brutal players’ poll to find the Bundesliga’s biggest “disappointment”.
Mario Gotze faces an undignified exit at Borussia Dortmund after rejecting a pay cut and topping a player poll for biggest ‘disappointment’Credit: PA
Philippe Coutinho was fifth on the list of flops, as voted for by Bundesliga stars, but is again being linked with ArsenalCredit: PA:Press Association
Dortmund are offloading Gotze as his contract ends this summer following a dramatic slump in form since his return from rivals Bayern Munich four years ago.
And having won three Bundesliga crowns, the 28-year-old has now finished off with a domestic nomination he certainly did not want.
German top-flight players put Gotze way ahead of his rivals on 30 per cent in their list of flops.
Bayern keeper Alex Nuebel was next on 11.5 per cent, ahead of Botafogo’s ex-Hertha Berlin and Chelsea wideman Salomon Kalou, Schalke frontman Guido Burgstaller and Barcelona’s Bayern loanee Coutinho, with 3.7 per cent.
Gotze was a key man when Germany won the ultimate prize in Brazil six years ago, scoring the extra-time winner in the final against Argentina.
But his form faltered and in 2016 he was diagnosed with a muscular disorder called myopathy.
Nonetheless, even Arsenal have been mentioned in the past as potential Premier League suitors for the 63-cap star.
And with Barca reportedly interested in swapping Coutinho for outcast Gunners’ midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, Gotze will surely be mentioned in Prem circles again if his wage demands are realistic.
The Bundesliga poll did, though, offer encouraging news for Chelsea over new signing Timo Werner and Manchester United for pursuing England attacker Jadon Sancho.
Although Robert Lewandowski dominated the “best outfield player” category on 42.6 per cent, Sancho was second on 14.1 per cent and Werner fifth on 2.5 per cent.
The most emphatic win came in the world’s “best trainer” section, where Liverpool’s title-winning boss Jurgen Klopp scored 74.8 per cent, ahead of second-placed Manchester City chief Pep Guardiola on 13 per cent.
And there was also a landslide success for the Prem itself, rated by 74.4 per cent as the word’s top league, compared to a vote of 17.8 per cent for the Bundesliga.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk