Bayern Have Lost An ‘Important Player’ In Gotze – Alaba

The Austrian international insists his close friend, who recently rejoined Borussia Dortmund from the Bavarians, was “unlucky” to see his career stagnate due to injury trouble

David Alaba insists Bayern Munich have lost an “important player” following Mario Gotze’s decision to leave the Bundesliga champions to rejoin Borussia Dortmund.

Gotze, 24, angered Dortmund fans when he left them in 2013 to join their German rivals Bayern but completed a move back to Signal Iduna Park on Thursday.
The midfielder struggled to live up to his price tag at Bayern due to prolonged injury problems and therefore Alaba believes his former team-mate was “unlucky” during his time at the club.
“In the last few years he was bit unlucky with his injuries,” Alaba told Goal.
“But I think every time he was on the pitch he always tried to give his best. His statistics show us that he was an important player for us.”
Alaba revealed Gotze was “one of his closest friends” at Bayern and another player who he is also close with is Franck Ribery, who he says has played an important role in his development.

He continued: “At the age of 16, when I had my first traning session with the first-team squad, I came into the cabin and there stood Ribery and he said: “Come here, sit down. Take the locker beside me.”

“And that’s my place still today. He always tried to help me – whether on or off the pitch.”
Bayern are preparing for the first International Champions Cup clash against AC Milan and Alaba says he can’t wait to get going in the United States.
“I’m looking forward to our US tour, I like it to be in America,” said Alaba. “And we New York, Chicago and Charlotte, we visit very cool cities. The people are always very friendly there.”
Two other sides who will be competing in the US are Barcelona and Real Madrid and when asked who he thought was the better out of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, Alaba had praise for both superstars.

He added: “I like them both. Cristiano Ronaldo works very hard, day by day, hour by hour, for his success. And Messi? Messi his not human with the ball.”

source – goal.com