For a footballer, there aren't many accolades more impressive than scoring the all important winner at a World Cup final. Mario Gotze, Bayern Munich's German playmaker has done just that to seal his place in football history in 2014. Hailed as one of the most exciting talents to emerge from the Bundesliga in recent times, something hasn't gone right for the diminutive No. 10 at the Allianz Arena.
Be it constant long-term or a lack of faith from the manager, it has taken a massive toll on both his form and confidence, particularly this season.
Gotze first showcased his talent when he was part of a Dortmund team that reached the finals of the Champions League, catching the eye of Bayern's then incoming manager Pep Guardiola. He formed an effective trio alongside Marco Reus and Robert Lewandowski at that time under Jürgen Klopp.
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Both Reus and Lewandowski have had spectacular seasons, with the former Gladbach man scoring 19 and setting up 5 and the Polish captain becoming the first foreigner to score 30 goals in the Bundesliga. Gotze, in stark contrast, has managed just 6 goals, while assisting 4 timesthis season. But the silver lining for the World Cup winner is his age. At just 23, he still has a lot of time to fulfil his true potential.
Gotze’s talent cannot be questioned, as he's shown time and again that he's a naturally gifted footballer, whether it be his performances last season the season before. "I love to play with Mario. His technical skills are incredible, every striker in the world can only dream of his passing," Polish hitman Lewandowski said about his teammate.
Even Roberto Firmino weighed in on a potential move with his opinion. "Gotze I still know well from my time in Germany, when I played with Hoffenheim against Borussia Dortmund and Bayern," the robust playmaker stated to Bild. "He has incredible qualities in attack. He would fit in well with us and will surely help us with his class, also."
It is yet to be seen if Gotze has a future under Bayern's to be boss Carlo Ancelotti, but the Italian doesn’t have a track record of keeping an overly populated squad and Bayern are heavily loaded with attacking options.
A new red to look forward to?
If the reports are to be believed and Klopp has convinced Liverpool to go all out for the playmaker, he must ensure a move goes through for the sake of his career. Furthermore, his future is certainly up in the air due to Bayern's latest stellar acquisition, Renato Sanches.
A reunion with the man who engineered the revolutionary Dortmund side which Gotze was part of could prove to be the catalyst to his revival. In terms of more playing time on offer, familiarity with the system of play and a level of the much-needed confidence that he quite desperately requires at the moment. And what will certainly help his cause is the fact that rumours regarding Pochettino’s plot to bring former Saints man Adam Lallana to White Hart Lane is gathering a lot of pace in recent weeks.
Even if a proposed move to Merseyside falls through, the German will have no shortage of suitors due to his skill and age. Any club would expect a player of the highest quality when they pay £30-40million, and they will get exactly that with Gotze . Other clubs such as Arsenal and Manchester United have constantly been linked with a move for the nimble-footed German.
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"In general, I would say that a transfer can release new energy. A new environment, new surroundings, new motivations" Joachim Low stated to a German newspaper. The World Cup-winning coach added, "He needs a coach who desperately wants him in his team, but that is not in any way a criticism of Bayern or of Pep Guardiola".
A player of Mario Gotze’s calibre cannot, or rather, should not start on the bench of a Champions League knockout game, as he did as Bayern Munich saw themselves crash out at the semi-final clash. He still has time on his side to become a world-beating playmaker. But as Joachim Low said, he needs to leave Bayern Munich and seek regular football elsewhere.
This summer provides him with an opportunity to do so, and it's now or never for Mario. But as of now, the former Dortmund man is too good a player to be sitting on the sidelines along with Bayern’s embarrassment of riches.
