BVB boss: We'll make an example of the next Aubameyang or Dembélé
Borussia Dortmund boss Hans-Joachim Watzke says the club won't tolerate if a player makes trouble or goes on strike to force through a move in the future.
In the summer of 2017, Ousmane Dembélé went on a strike to force through a move to FC Barcelona. Just around six months later - in January 2018 - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang skipped team meetings or refused to run during training as the striker pushed for a move to Arsenal.
Both players ultimately got the move they wanted, but Dortmund will not tolerate similar behaviour from any players in the future, says the club's CEO, Hans-Joachim Watzke.
"We've made a clear announcement. The next player, who makes trouble or goes on strike, will be left to stew. This is populist, because of course we also have an economic responsibility. We couldn't keep Dembélé and give up more than €140 million. And it wasn't possible with Aubameyang either," Watzke told Ruhr Nachrichten and continued:
"But through these cases, a situation has arisen that demands a regulatory policy. And that's why I say that the next player, who tries something like that, is in trouble. And the players know that too. We'll then make an example of the person concerned."