Noah Atubolu’s planned move away from SC Freiburg has yet to materialise. The goalkeeper had decided early on that he wanted to leave the club this summer, but with competitive football now getting underway, he remains under contract in Breisgau. Freiburg, meanwhile, have already signed Mio Backhaus from Werder Bremen, seemingly preparing for life after their long-time number one.
Despite the uncertain situation, Freiburg coach Julian Schuster insists that Atubolu continues to receive the full backing of the club.
“I think he is very lucky that he is under contract at SC Freiburg,” Schuster said. The coach praised the way the club and those around Atubolu have handled the situation, highlighting the empathy shown towards the goalkeeper.
“Everyone is very understanding of the situation and can assess it well. Not every club handles things like this, but Atu also appreciates that.”
For Schuster, Atubolu remains a special case given his close connection to the club and the city. The goalkeeper was born and raised in Freiburg and joined the SC Freiburg academy as a teenager before establishing himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.
“He is a Freiburg boy. We have stood by him from the beginning. Ever since he has been at the club, we have been by his side. We are there for him and will see what happens next.”
At the same time, Freiburg have already made arrangements for a possible change between the posts. Mio Backhaus joined the club from Werder Bremen and is regarded as the potential successor to Atubolu.
Schuster also praised the way the Freiburg squad has dealt with the unusual situation.
“The team also has a good feeling for how they need to deal with our new goalkeeper Mio. That’s really great.”
For now, however, the situation remains unresolved. Atubolu is still hoping for a move in the near future, but according to the current state of play, there does not appear to be a concrete offer from a club ready to sign him.