- Terzic quit as Dortmund manager after a reported row with Hummels
- Hummels has broken his silence about the situation, now that his future is also uncertain
- LISTEN: On It all begins! Why England’s defense could prevent football from coming home
Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels has broken his silence just hours after Edin Terzic quit as manager of the club amid reports of a falling out with the centre-back.
Reports emerged on Thursday morning that Hummels and Terzic had a ‘violent confrontation’ ahead of the Champions League final earlier this month, after Hummels criticized his manager’s tactics in big matches.
They put their differences aside for the showpiece match at Wembley – which Dortmund lost 2-0 to Real Madrid – but after a meeting with club chiefs on Thursday, Terzic decided to walk away, just minutes after news of his dispute with Hummels became public made.
Hummels took to Instagram on Thursday evening to share his thoughts on the day’s events, posting a photo of himself with a bewildered expression alongside the cryptic caption: “Summary of today will be a challenge for me too.”
Hummels himself is out of contract this summer, reports the German Bild his deal is not renewedmeaning he will also follow Terzic out the exit door.
Mats Hummels broke his silence on Instagram on Thursday evening, just hours after Edin Terzic quit as manager of Borussia Dortmund
Terzic (left) walked out after a reported row with Hummels before the Champions League final
This will be his second departure from Dortmund, having also left the club in 2016 after eight years at the club, before returning for a second spell in 2019.
It is understood Hummels is open to a move abroad, with Serie A giants Roma and AC Milan both showing interest in the 35-year-old.
Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera claim that Roma would be willing to offer the experienced defender a two-year contract, with an option for a further 12 months.
Hummels’ relationship with Terzic is said to have quickly deteriorated after he gave an explosive interview ahead of the Champions League final.
Hummels was not happy with Dortmund’s approach to matches against teams above them, telling Bild: ‘I was furious because I believed that Borussia Dortmund should not play like that – against any opponent in the world.
‘I didn’t think it could go on like this. I felt insulted in my honor to be on the field in that uniform. So submissive, so inferior in football terms. The two games in Stuttgart and the away game in Leverkusen. That was barricading with eleven men in the box.’
Terzic was furious with Hummels’ comments and confronted his star defender after his scathing criticism.
It is not the first time Hummels has spoken out against a manager in recent weeks, having also hit out at Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann for leaving him out of his squad for the 2024 European Championship.
The 2014 World Cup winner admitted he was ‘bitter’ about being snubbed and revealed his conversation with Nagelsmann about being left out was ‘short and disappointing’.
“Not even two minutes,” Hummels told Sport Bild when asked how long he spoke to Nagelsmann.
‘I just had to leave for training. But at such moments I don’t need a long conversation or a big explanation. That was enough for me.
Hummels is also expected to leave Dortmund this summer because his contract will not be extended
Hummels has also criticized Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann (pictured) in recent weeks for not selecting him for Euro 2024.
‘If I understood him correctly, he was busy with other things than accepting a joker. As I understood it, it was more about age-related things, like fitness.
‘I can understand the idea that a group should have grown since March. For me as an individual that is bitter because I am currently one of the five best defenders in Germany and I have that confidence.
‘If I had had the phase I had before the nomination in March, I might have been there – and now part of the European Championship selection.’
Germany will start their Euro 2024 campaign against Scotland without Hummels on Friday evening, with the defender facing an uncertain future following his shock dispute with Terzic.