Striker Alcacer makes Dortmund stay permanent
>> BERLIN: Spanish striker Paco Alcacer is making his loan deal at Borussia Dortmund permanent, the Bundesliga leaders announced on Friday.
“We have informed DC Barcelona today that we will apply the buy option,” Dortmund’s sport director Michael Zorc said in a statement on the club website.
“Paco is wholeheartedly with us, he has quickly integrated and has become an integral part of our squad.
“He is a real scorer of high footballing quality and has already won some important games for us. We look forward to many more goals and assists from Paco in the coming years.”
The 25-year-old Spanish international joined Dortmund from Barcelona on a one-year loan deal in the summer and has made an immediate impression with nine goals in just eight appearances, including the winner against Bayern Munich two weeks ago.
“I am very happy in Dortmund ... in this wonderful team,” said Alcacer.
“Borussia Dortmund was and is exactly the right decision for me. I will do everything I can to say thank you for your trust!”
Alcacer has agreed a contract that will run until June 30, 2023.
Dortmund have not released details of the transfer fee but it is estimated by German media outlets Bild and Kicker at between €21 and 23 million.
That could rise by a further five million euros in bonuses.
Meanwhile, former Barcelona and Real Madrid player Bernd Schuster believes Barcelona is too big a club for winger Ousmane Dembele.
Frenchman Dembele has struggled to make an impact since joining Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in August 2017 for a fee that could rise to €147 million. He has also been criticised for turning up late for training and faced accusations of unprofessionalism in other areas.
“There are some players who are good enough for Barcelona and some who are not, and you find that out from the start — it doesn’t take three seasons,” said Schuster, who went on to coach Real Madrid and is currently in charge of Chinese side Dalian Yifang. “Barcelona is too big for Dembele. At Dortmund he had some great matches, but not that many.”