By Ewah Chika.
It might have taken Mario Gotze so much time to realise his folly in moving to Bavaria but that doesn't mean he won't regain his best form after rejoining hometown club Borussia Dortmund for £22 million on Thurday.
"When I moved from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern in 2003 it was a conscious decision. I will not hide behind this today.
"Three years later and at the age of 24, I look on this decision with a different view. I can understand
many fans could not understand my decision. I would not make the same one today. Now, I return to my home, I want to try to convince people with my performances especially those who will not receive me with open arms. My aim is to play my best football again," Gotze said on his Facebook minutes after it became official he had rejoined hometown club Borussia Dortmund.
Currently Gotze is a shadow of his former self considering his dreadful form last season after making only 14 appearances for Bayern in the Bundesliga. The problem with Gotze's move to Bavaria lies in the fact that Bayern were more interested in dismantling a strong Dortmund side that played the season's (2012/2013) final with them by signing the young sensation (Gotze) than adding quality to their (Bayern) squad.
Gotze was not compatible with the philosophy of then coach Pep Guardiola as he was rarely used with the likes of Thomas Muller, Frank Ribery and Arjen Robben playing as attacking midfielders behind Mario Madzukic in Guardiola's first season. As if that wasn't enough, Gotze's second and third season in Bavaria only got worse as the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Douglas Costa and then Kingsley Coman were signed making it nearly possible for him to play on a regular basis.
Gotze might have envisaged his exit after newly appointed Italian coach made it clear to him in a phone call that he was free to leave, yet this did nothing to deter the player who made public his desire to stay and fight for his place a few weeks later. Gotze might have finally accepted and realised how his stock had further fallen since making the move three years ago. The German international who had a below-average showing in the just concluded Euro's might have seen what was lay in wait for him in Bavaria considering the player who was signed to replace him (Renato Sanches) did not disappoint for Portugal as his goals, assists and all round performance helped secure Portugal's second major trophy in their football history.
Injuries might have also rubbed off negatively on the midfielder's form but judging from his time at the club , Gotze wasn't really what Bayern needed, his playing style was different to that of Pep Guardiola and he ended up a square peg in a round hole. Gotze is used to a team that plays a direct energy high pressing devastating counter attacking football just like Dortmund did under Klopp and also Germany during the 2014 FIFA World Cup under Joachim Low. The German excels when he is the star man and the focal point of attack as well as having the full confidence of his coach which was never the case in Bayern as the likes of Muller, Ribery, Lewandowski and Robben took the shine off him.
Gotze might have been the Judas in 2013 after exiting for Bavaria but he returns as the prodigal son ready to win back the love and affection of Ruhr with not just his performance but trophies as was the case before his exit .
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