Yesterday, the day before the end of the transfer period, the news broke in the evening: Isco, football violence in four letters, apparently wants to go to Union Berlin and would bring the aura of five Champions League victories to the Alte Försterei. Isco: now 30 years old, attacking midfield, a decade at Real Madrid, 38 caps for Spain – so now Iron Union?
The news, which circulated as a ridiculous rumor over the weekend and has now mutated into reality, would be more than a last-minute transfer. Union Berlin sends a message: We are no longer the folklore club from the east that escaped the 2nd division in 2019, regularly embarrassed local rivals Hertha BSC and briefly said “hello” in the first third of the table – Union is serious. (NEWS: All current information about the Bundesliga)
And how: 11th place in the first Bundesliga year, 7th place in the second, 5th place in the third – qualifying for the Champions League in the following fourth year is only the logical consequence. Union persistently bites behind Bayern Munich: After 18 match days, a single point separates the two clubs at the top of the table. Bayern has so far recorded fewer wins this season than Union Berlin.
When Bayern Munich leaked the signing of João Cancelo (Manchester City) on Monday morning, the climax before “Dealine Day”, as the last transfer day is called, seemed to have been reached. Then came Union and stole the headlines from Bayern. That too: a signal. The Bundesliga hasn’t experienced anything like this since the great Raúl switched to Schalke 04 twelve years ago.
Yes, Isco was recently without a club because things didn’t go as hoped at Sevilla FC. He’s getting on in years. But a squad that needs nerves of steel when the Champions League becomes the dominant topic in the capital in the coming weeks, he can be a support with his experience from twelve years in La Liga. And possibly also as soon as the qualification is successful. (DATA: Bundesliga schedule)
The Bundesliga should be happy: Another world star would come to Germany. Unlike Sadio Mané in the summer, a Bayern rival who, let’s be honest, didn’t expect the transfer coup, has strengthened. Who would have thought it when Union rose in the relegation against VfB Stuttgart in 2019? Some Berliners talked, others acted. (DATA: Bundesliga results)
Fever Pit’ch is the daily football newsletter from SPORT1 editor-in-chief Pit Gottschalk. Every morning at 6.10 a.m., subscribers receive the comment on the football topic of the day and the links to the best football stories in the German media. You can get the free newsletter here: https://www.feverpitch.de/.
