BILD reveals the first testimony of Reus. - The title achieved a rating of three.
At Wembley Stadium, Marco Reus (34) will not just be playing the last and crucial game in the Champions League final against Real Madrid for Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, but also the final match of his entire career. He desires nothing more than raising the glittering trophy above his head after the final whistle and holding it high into the London night sky.
A person with his thumbs pressing particularly hard at home in Kamen-Kaiserau in front of the television is Heinz Slupek. The 83-year-old has been scouting for various Bundesliga clubs for years and brought talents like Gerald Asamoah, Mike Hanke, and Ivan Rakitic to Schalke or Thomas Helmer and Norbert "Nobby" Dickel to Dortmund.
Reus had been identified by him early on, and the quick striker immediately impressed Slupek. Reus played at the time for Rot-Weiß Ahlen's A-Junior team, only 17 years old then. Slupek recalls his initial task for 1. FC Cologne, "Marco wasn't particularly beefy, but he outshined everyone else on the field. I was certain then - a fantastic talent!"
"I promptly called the FC from my car on the way back from Ahlen and emphatically recommended his immediate signing," the "Diamond Eye" (his former nickname in the industry) says. However, Cologne hesitated - for too long. "The FC doubted my judgment straight away because I'd been working for them for only three days," Slupek complains to this day.
A regrettable decision. Because two weeks later, Gladbach signed Reus before he joined Dortmund in 2012.
He who played 428 league games (170 goals/131 assists) for the team and now, towards the end, aims for the stars in the final of the King's Class against Real Madrid...
