By Mark Baber
July 29 – Borussia Dortmund (BVB), main challengers to Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga, are looking to take on another two major investors as strategic partners to sharpen their challenge to the Bavarian dominance.
During the summer break, BVB and Bayern have been keeping the fans entertained with a “scandalous” anti-BVB song by Bastian Schweinsteiger going viral (in which he called BVB “sons of B*****s”), followed by an apology, and then an offer of singing lessons from BVB.
The serious rivalry, of course, is in the commercial realm, and BVB, who recently sold a 9% stake to long-time partners Evonik, is looking to sell two more 5% stakes before the end of September.
The Evonik deal was considered good value for money, so the sale may attract other investors looking for a good return, rather than just those looking for an association with football.
Hans-Joachim Watzke, BVB’s managing director, said July 24: “It doesn’t necessarily have to be a German company or one of our present sponsors. A strategic partner mustn’t be a ‘locust’ or a fund,” but rather an investor with a “significant long-term sponsoring interest.”
BVB are undoubtedly Bayern’s main challengers and are relying heavily on team coach Juergen Klopp to bring them further success.
Attempts to get Marco Reus to forgo a break clause in his contract, in exchange for a higher salary, have not yet born fruit, but the club hopes new investor/sponsors will allow the club to raise its wage bill from the current €80 million to €120 million with the ambition, according to Watzke, “to close the gap to clubs like Paris St. Germain, Manchester City or Manchester United.”
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