Skip to content

Borussia Dortmund CEO rules out Mkhitaryan return

Ralph Orlowski / Reuters

Borussia Dortmund has seen its fair share of star players come and go during the years but one such player is no longer welcome back, according to the club's CEO.

Hans-Joachim Watzke has facilitated the return of a number of players who once departed the club like Shinji Kagawa, Mario Gotze, and Nuri Sahin, but says that Henrikh Mkhitaryan, now at Manchester United, won't be given the same treatment.

The Armenian international departed the club during the summer window after enjoying a superb 2015-16 season and Watzke says the move did not sit well with the German outfit.

It's why, when asked by German magazine Kicker if Mkhitaryan could potentially return in the future, Watzke gave a simple "No."

"Any intelligent player should consider in advance what kind of environment they are moving to," Watzke said, as quoted by ESPN FC. "When you are playing in surroundings where things are working for you, like in Dortmund, then it is quite strange to give that away again once things have finally started to work out for you after a long time settling in."

Last season, Mkhitaryan proved himself a force both in front of goal and behind the ball, scoring 23 goals in all competitions and creating 32 assists, too.

But a dream of playing in the Premier League meant that he and agent Mino Raiola facilitated a move to Jose Mourinho's Manchester United over the summer.

Raiola was involved in a number of high-profile moves with the Red Devils, also helping bring Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba to Old Trafford.

However, Watzke says Raiola wasn't responsible for Mkhitaryan's decision.

"In Mkhitaryan's case it was the player's decision," Watzke explained. "Raiola is intelligent, and he's a brute. He has a certain business model, but we knew that already when we sat down because of Mkhitaryan. You know what you have with him. Raiola acted correctly."

MORE STORIES

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox