Borussia Dortmund traveled to the training camp in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland. Among the 31 players is the courted Jadon Sancho - after a club-approved trip to London. This is seen as a positive sign that the young star is staying.
Dortmund (AP) - Jadon Sancho was not the first to arrive at the airport, but was still on time for Borussia Dortmund's departure for the Swiss training camp.
The 20-year-old league top scorer of the Westphalian top football club checked in with 30 other players at Dortmund Airport in the direction of St. Gallen-Altenrhein. From there it was later to continue by bus to Bad Ragaz, where the runner-up was sweating for the eighth time in a row for a week until August 17 in preparation for the coming season.
BVB posted several videos of the departure on social media and sent the entire roster of those traveling. The news that Sancho is involved in the Swiss mountains is not insignificant because it is seen as a positive sign that the gifted offensive player will remain in Dortmund. According to reports, the BVB top had set the departure date as the deadline for a possible change of the English national player.
According to media reports, Manchester United in particular is interested in signing Sancho, but is apparently having a hard time making the purchase due to the transfer fee of 120 million euros requested by BVB. In view of the long transfer period this year until the beginning of October, BVB should also keep BVB busy in the coming weeks.
With a private trip to London on Saturday, Sancho had fueled new rumors of change. However, BVB was informed about it and had approved similar trips to their families for all professionals. Sancho was reportedly at a rapper party with friends, as seen on a video on social media. Corona rules and hygiene measures were apparently not disregarded.
"It is normal and okay for players to visit their home country again before a training camp, if it is not a risk area. That applies to everyone and of course also to Jadon," commented BVB media director Sascha Fligge on the short trip.
Only the long-time injured veterans Marco Reus and Marcel Schmelzer are missing in Switzerland. They should continue their rehabilitation measures in Dortmund so that they can connect with the team as soon as possible. Convalescents Mats Hummels and Mahmoud Dahoud were there for the departure. The duo is supposed to start team training a week later.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 200810-99-108591 / 3
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