FC Schalke: There are Harit’s, and then there are Nubel’s

FC Schalke are losing Alexander Nubel, but they’re keeping Amine Harit, and at the end of the day, you’d want to have it no other way.

Amine Harit fired the first shot in FC Schalke‘s battle to keep hold of their stars for once. He signed a new deal to 2024 and delighted fans across the world. The suitors were there, the options were there, but Harit signed with Die Knappen and he looked damn happy to be doing so.

That put the pressure on Alexander Nubel, the “next great German keeper.” Nubel had been linked to Bayern Munich from the start of the season, but Schalke showed fight, and there was renewed optimism that he might stay. All of which was thoroughly undone when it was finalized—he’d be going to Bayern on a five-year contract. For free.

Loyalty means different things to different people. Harit chose loyalty, Nubel chose fame and fortune. But when you really get down to it, a club like Schalke is better suited building around people like Harit anyway. Not people like Nubel.

Or Leon Goretzka. Etc. Etc.

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• Schalke 04: David Wagner just has to make it to the end of the season
• Schalke 04: At least we still have Weston McKennie

This is a disappointment. Sure, we should be happy for what Nubel gave us, but having seen this happen so many times before, having seen players leave us for direct rivals in Germany, it begins to wear thin. Goretzka was the creme de la creme, but Nubel isn’t far behind.

These are Schalke players born and bred. And they leave the club for nothing to compete directly against them down the road.

If that’s the kind of people that they are, then it’s best Schalke don’t have them anyway. Schalke is not a star-studded team. They are a team built on loyalty and passion for the club. If any certain player doesn’t have that, then go on and get out. Go somewhere where you can sparkle like a sequin-studded superhero.

We will do just fine with Markus Schubert, someone who chose this club and wants this club. And we will build out this foundation of players that actually want to be here, and don’t have wet dreams about being somewhere else.

Wir Leben Dich, right? Well that applies to some people, but not to the Nubel’s and the Goretzka’s. We’re better off without.

I’m just happy we can see clearly through the two biggest issues now. We won both battles. We got answers. Now let’s move forward.