Hans-Joachim Watzke: 'Marco Reus can be local hero like Steven Gerrard'

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 11 February 2015

Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke believes that Marco Reus can emulate Steven Gerrard's career in being a local hero.

Borussia Dortmund Hans-Joachim Watzke believes that Marco Reus can become a local hero at the club, similar to how Steven Gerrard is seen at Liverpool.

The German attacker was heavily expected to leave struggling Dortmund at the end of the season, with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich among the clubs being linked with him.

However, the 25-year-old quashed all speculation by signing a contract extension until 2019, despite Jurgen Klopp's side languishing third from bottom in the Bundesliga table.

"If you decide for your club in such a situation, you are down at the bottom of the table, you have offers from the biggest clubs on earth, but nevertheless you decide for your club, thus resigning a lot of financial conditions, that are those players who will be later legends in their clubs," FourFourTwo quotes Watzke as saying.

"Just like Uwe Seeler, who didn't go [from Hamburg] to Inter Milan, also other players, like [Steven] Gerrard at Liverpool. And now there is also the possibility, especially in the case of Marco, who is born here in this city."

Gerrard, who will leave Liverpool in the summer for MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy, was wanted by Chelsea and Real Madrid during the peak of his Liverpool career, but decided to stay at his boyhood club.