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Schalke: Alexander Nubel to have captaincy removed and be benched?

By Kevin Parvizi

WOLFSBURG, GERMANY - DECEMBER 18: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel of Schalke looks on during the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and FC Schalke 04 at Volkswagen Arena on December 18, 2019 in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
WOLFSBURG, GERMANY - DECEMBER 18: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel of Schalke looks on during the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and FC Schalke 04 at Volkswagen Arena on December 18, 2019 in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /
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FC Schalke 04 goalkeeper Alexander Nubel has been an important part of the club this season, but he may be left to the bench after signing a five-year contract with Bayern Munich.

While FC Schalke 04 fans should hold no ill will to Alexander Nubel for making what he feels is the best move for his career, the club has a serious decision to make. Nubel has chosen to sign a five-year contract with Bayern Munich upon the expiration of his current deal with the Royal Blues in 2020, which means every game he plays in the second half of the season will help develop him for a Bundesliga competitor.

Nubel has been one of Schalke’s star players this season as they sit in a top five position at the halfway point of the season. The 23-year-old goalkeeper has been the team’s captain and regular starter, but after signing with Bayern, both of those titles have been called into question.

Per a report from BILD, via Schalke Daily, manager David Wagner is expected to remove Nubel as team captain. During his four-game suspension for a horror tackle on Mijat Gacinovic last Sunday, defensive midfielder Omar Mascarell has been captain.

On top of that, Wagner is also mulling benching Nubel for 21-year-old keeper Markus Schubert, who has been excellent in the two-and-a-half games since Nubel’s obvious red card. Schubert even had a massive double save in a 2-2 draw with SC Freiburg on Saturday.

If Wagner does bench Nubel and remove him as captain, which would be a necessary move if he’s played behind Schubert, then it will be a move met with praise by Schalke fans. While most Schalke fans appreciate Nubel and want the best for him, he will no longer be a part of the club’s future beyond 2020. If he doesn’t offer a significantly better chance for the Royal Blues to qualify for the Champions League – or outright win the Bundesliga, which is more than a mere pipe dream – then there’s no need to play him over Schubert for Bayern’s benefit.

Next. Markus Schubert should start for the rest of the season. dark

Furthermore, although Nubel didn’t owe Schalke anything by re-signing or netting them a profit in a transfer, Schalke also have to think about the decision he made to choose a rival Bundesliga club on a free move. The club has been criticized for letting star players, such as Leon Goretzka two years ago, leave to big clubs like Bayern for free or on the cheap.

It won’t be an easy decision for the Royal Blues and their new manager to make, but if Schubert keeps playing well, then benching Nubel and making Mascarell captain will start to gain more support.