Report: Schalke set to reward Matriciani with new deal
Germany's main sporting tabloid reports that FC Schalke 04 hope to have a new long-term deal ironed out for surprise star Henning Matriciani soon.
| Henning Matriciani | FC Schalke 04 |
"It makes one proud to collect these minutes and to be able to play for your country," an elated Matriciani remarked after the game, "It's an indescribable feeling. [The nomination] came on a relatively short notice. The fact that it was u expected makes one even happier."
Matriciani did note that he had wished the team had gotten a better result. The 23-year-old praised the Romanians as a formidable foe and conceded that he and his teammates could have made more of their possession and space. Schalke's new surprise star said that he would take everything he could from the deployment, learn from it, and fight for a place on the U21s in the future.
Matriciani's club future looks to be fairly bright indeed. Germany's main sporting tabloid reports that acting S04 sporting director Peter Knäbel wishes to ensure that the Lippstadt native plays a role in the team for several years to come. The Schalke front office wishes to extend Matriciani's current contract, at present only good through the end of next season.
The player - who worked his way up to the Knappenschmiede after playing as an amateur for his hometown club - should be in line for a considerable pay raise. Knäbel and the administrative team will obviously also wish to construct a new deal that will keep Matriciani tied to the club and well compensated irrespective of which league tier Schalke find themselves playing in.