Sabitzer stays at Dortmund amid Gulf offers

Marcel Sabitzer remains with Borussia Dortmund as coach Niko Kovac confirms his plans, despite lucrative interest from Gulf clubs.

Sabitzer stays at Dortmund amid Gulf offers

Marcel Sabitzer joined Dortmund from Bayern Munich in 2023 and quickly became a key player on the way to last season’s Champions League final. Last season he struggled with injuries and form, but under coach Niko Kovac the Austrian midfielder has impressed in the current preparations. A personal talk reportedly reinforced that Kovac plans to rely on him, effectively ruling out a move. The report also notes lucrative off ers from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, though Sabitzer is not entertaining a departure. Teammate Serhou Guirassy is said to have rejected Al Hilal, underscoring a broader market pull while maintaining Dortmund’s current core.

This episode highlights how European clubs balance talent with money in a crowded transfer market. A coach's public backing can stabilize a player and a club, even when big offers surface. For Dortmund, keeping Sabitzer could be part of a broader strategy to build a reliable spine after a turbulent market era. At the same time, Gulf money remains a destabilizing factor for many teams, testing loyalty, wage structures and squad depth. The dynamics here reflect a football world where performance, trust, and financial attraction collide in real time.

Highlights

Belief and performance may now carry more weight than offers alone.