FC Schalke 04: Alexander Nubel to sign five-year deal with Bayern Munich

While there was optimism that Alexander Nubel would stay with FC Schalke 04, Bayern Munich have reportedly signed the star goalkeeper to a five-year contract.

Before the season started, it looked like a guarantee that Alexander Nubel would head to Bayern Munich on a free transfer. But as FC Schalke 04 started to win games and surprise the rest of the Bundesliga in their first season under David Wagner, it looked increasingly likely that Nubel would actually decide to stay in Gelsenkirchen.

There were several things seemingly working in Schalke’s favor. Nubel was the team captain, the Royal Blues were in the thick of the title race, the club was prepared to offer Nubel a high salary, and Bayern were closing in on an extension for veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

However, BILD is reporting, via BuLiNews.com, that Nubel will leave to the record champions anyway. They are reporting that the Schalke captain will sign a five-year deal with Bayern and leave on a free transfer at the end of the season.

It’s a tough blow for Schalke, as they lose one of the best young goalkeepers in Europe and their captain. Nubel had a chance to become a club legend with Schalke by signing one more contract with Die Knappen before leaving to Bayern, but, as usual, Bayern get their preferred target on a free. Schalke felt the pain two years ago when Leon Goretzka left to Bayern for free after helping lead the team to a second-place finish under Domenico Tedesco.

Schalke fans will wish Nubel nothing but the best for his performances in goal, and they will keep their eyes glued to the younger – and probably better – Markus Schubert. The backup has been sensational during Nubel’s well-deserved four-game suspension, and it’s even possible he starts the rest of the season for the Royal Blues. It’s not probable, but it is possible.

As for Nubel, he’s decided to head to Bayern despite Neuer’s presence. Nubel can do big things at Bayern in the future, and nobody can fault him for wanting to leave to (by far) Germany’s biggest club. Nubel has been given assurances of playing time behind Neuer, as Die Roten will look to develop him into the next best German goalkeeper. And thus, the comparisons to Neuer, who also starred at Schalke before joining Bayern, will crescendo.