This headline could be reworded as "Ascent's notable figure departs" or "Prominent individual from Ascent departs." - Hartel exits St. Pauli.
Over the past few days, there have been hints about something amiss. When he was substituted against Osnabrück during the promotion match, which had already been won. His absence from the championship final in Wiesbaden, chalked up as a cold. And Marcel Hartel (28) seemed unusually reserved during the celebrations.
Now it's clear why. The top scorer in the 2nd division has made a significant decision after his third Bundesliga promotion, previously with Union Berlin and Arminia Bielefeld.
Marcel Hartel Bids Farewell to St. Pauli
For weeks, there was a fierce battle for the goal-scoring midfielder. Sports director Andreas Bornemann (52) admitted weeks ago that non-sporting aspects also came into play.
According to the club: "FC St. Pauli's midfielder Marcel Hartel is leaving the Millerntor for an undisclosed destination."
"My time here has been exceptional," explained the 28-year-old, expressing gratitude to the club and fans for their support.
In the previous season, Hartel scored 17 goals and made 13 more assists in 33 games in the 2nd division. In the DFB Cup, he featured in four games, scoring four goals and assisting two more.
Bornemann on Hartel's departure: "He has become a key player and has also developed a prolific goal-scoring knack thanks to his role in our system of play. We would have loved to keep Marcel with us for longer, but we respect his decision to tread a different path. I'd like to thank Marcel for his remarkable commitment to FC St. Pauli and wish him all the best for the future, both personally and professionally."
Coach Fabian Hürzeler also had nothing but praise: "Cello's game minutes were impressive and critical to our success. Our collaboration was always based on trust, and he played a phenomenal role last season."
And Hartel? He was full of heartfelt thanks: "It's not easy for me to make this move. But sometimes, unique opportunities present themselves in life. I'd like to thank the entire team, the coaches and backend support, as well as Andreas Bornemann and the entire club, plus the fans for the remarkable time at the Millerntor. I am proud of what we achieved here together. I won't forget that!"
There has been no confirmation of precisely what these opportunities are. But it is rumored that Borussia Mönchengladbach have been courting the midfielder for some time. Yet, his departure might take him abroad, with Greece mentioned as a possible destination.
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Source: symclub.org