Lothar Matthaus has insisted that Bayern Munich forward Mario Gotze made the right decision to turn down a move to Liverpool this summer.
As noted by Bild on Tuesday, the 23-year-old confirmed his desire to stay in Bavaria as he revealed his excitement over working with incoming boss Carlo Ancelotti next season.
In turn, his decision would have left former coach Jurgen Klopp disappointed, with the German tactician previously hopeful of a reunion with the World Cup winner this summer.
Matthaus has congratulated Gotze on his decision, as he has argued that ultimately the talented forward has avoided the easy option and will now hopefully prove his worth with the Bundesliga giants.
“I don’t know whether there was indeed an offer from Liverpool,” Matthaus told TZ, as reported by The Liverpool Echo.
“But why would he join a club that do not even play in the Champions League? He would have taken the easy solution with a move to Liverpool. But the easy solution is not always the right solution.
“Mario has shown with his latest comments that he is ready to fight for his place. This whole situation will only make him stronger. I applaud his decision to stay put. He is finally standing up for himself. He is taking his career in his own hands at last.
“He is not taking the easy way out, but is taking on the challenge. He wants to show Bayern what he can do. I have waited for this for quite some time. This is a sign that he is getting mature.”
Gotze struggled with fitness and form this past season, leading to limited opportunities under Pep Guardiola which seemed to suggest that an exit was likely, with several European giants monitoring his situation closely.
However, he has surprised many with his choice and will now attempt to prove his detractors wrong in his bid to play an important part in Bayern’s continued success with Ancelotti tipped to help the club overcome their troubles in Europe while maintaining their domestic dominance.
As for Liverpool, it will be a disappointing snub for Klopp having previously worked with Gotze at Dortmund, but the 48-year-old will undoubtedly remain confident in his ability to further strengthen his squad and continue to make progress next season without the German international.