From the Bundesliga to Schalke into the abyss: two Dutch legends remove Michael Frey from the selection

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The first league victory for Antwerp in 66 years – the sensational championship title, shot in the 94th minute of the last round – cannot put two Dutch football legends in the service of the Belgian club Antwerp: coach Mark van Bommel (46) and sporting director Marc Overmars (50) striker Michael Frey (29 years old on Wednesday) does not get a second chance.

The Swiss returns to his own club in Belgium after his loan to Schalke in the Bundesliga, but the reception in Antwerp at the start of the training for the champions is icy. Frey belongs with four other players to a group that separates the Orange duo Overmars / van Bommel. According to the Belgian news platform Nieuwsblad, they are only allowed to train with the U21s.

Frey no longer plays a role in the plans

After the removal from the professional team, there is no place for Frey on the journey to the training camp in Tyrol. The future in the Antwerp storm must include newly acquired super teen George Ilenikhena (16).

That is bitter for the Bernese. Since he is Belgium’s second-best goalscorer in the 2021/22 season with 22 goals in 33 games, national coach Murat Yakin has to answer questions about not being called up to the goalscoring machine. “He only scored his goals nationally, but not internationally,” he said of the ex-YB junior’s goalless Europa League campaign at the time.

The beginning of the end in Antwerp

A year later, the national team is very far away for Frey. He’s settled. The origins of the mess lie in the scandal in January, when he is angry and his prankster role forces him to leave. The emotional Berner grumbles after a match against journalists: “That was Frey’s last match for Antwerp!”

He should be right. The argument with coach van Bommel led to Frey making the switch to Schalke, at the bottom of the Bundesliga, in January. There he remains without a goal and cannot avoid relegation.

Frey is only worth half after the loan from Schalke

And even now, after the return to Antwerp, there will be no more matches. The perhaps emerging Champions League club (like YB in the play-offs) wants to get rid of the Swiss with his contract until 2024, but not for free. Frey is said to have cost €4 million over the winter – in no small part due to his strong 7 goals in 14 games despite his prankster role. But after the Schalke bear market, only 2 million are realistic.

According to the Belgian media, the Dutch club Utrecht reported an initial interest in the U21 training guest against their will. A return to Switzerland is unrealistic due to the transfer fee and the high wage level.

Source : Blick