As reported via FT, there has been considerable frustration amongst the goalkeepers at Schalke regarding who will start the season as Karel Geraerts’ number one.
Earlier in the summer, Wolfsburg signed Schalke’s first-choice goalkeeper, Marius Müller, for a reported €1.5 million, leaving the Royal Blues in desperate need to find a replacement. However, it did not take long for Schalke to secure the signing of Ron-Thorben Hoffmann from Eintracht Braunschweig.
The 25-year-old signed on a free transfer with the reassurance that he would start the campaign as Die Königsblauen’s undisputed number one. Nevertheless, it is understood that this frustrated Justin Heekeren, who recently returned from loan in the Belgian second division with Maasmechelen FC.
As stated in the report, the 23-year-old believed that it was an “open battle” for a starting role in between the sticks for Schake this season.
Regardless, in a press conference earlier today, Geraerts stated that he has had a change of heart regarding his goalkeeping situation, and instead, Heekeren will start for Schalke in their opening fixture against Braunschweig on Saturday evening.
“The decision was very close, 51 to 49 percent. In the end, Justin was more convincing in the pre-season. I followed his development, and it was very good. Justin showed me that he is ready for the next step.”
Geraerts later remarked that Hoffmann took the decision like a professional. But Bild are suggesting that, in actual fact, the 25-year-old was “furious and stunned” as he “didn’t get an explanation”.
Nonetheless, it is now clear that Heekeren will begin the campaign as Geraerts’ first choice, as Schalke look for a return to the Bundesliga.
Last season in the Belgian second division, the German kept a remarkable eight clean sheets in 14 appearances for Maasmechelen, who narrowly missed out on promotion.
GGFN | Will Shopland
