The self-confident announcement of the former Bielefeld goalkeeper
Stefan Ortega is moving to Manchester City from Arminia Bielefeld
Source: dpa/Friso Gentsch
From Bundesliga relegated to English champions – Stefan Ortega is moving from Arminia Bielefeld to Manchester City. The goalkeeper does not want to accept the role of reserve keeper without a fight and makes a confident announcement after signing the contract.
Dhe intersection of the two clubs could hardly be smaller. From Arminia Bielefeld to Manchester City, from Bundesliga relegation to English champions – Stefan Ortega takes a giant step. The goalkeeper signed a three-year contract in Manchester and will now play under star coach Pep Guardiola. Instead of Robin Hack, Janni Serra or Jacob Laursen, his teammates will be called Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne or Raheem Sterling.
Ortega will probably have to line up as number two behind first-choice goalkeeper Ederson in England. But because of the large number of competitive games in England and the local culture of often putting on the reserve goalkeeper in cup games, he can have justified hopes of appearances in the city shirt.
In any case, he does not want to accept the role of substitute for the Brazilian national goalkeeper without a fight. After signing the contract, Ortega immediately made a self-confident announcement: “I believe that I can play a more important role at City than many people give me credit for. My development is definitely not over yet.”
After his contract in Bielefeld expired, the German-Spaniard was rumored to be number two at champions FC Bayern Munich and regular keeper at Bundesliga returnees FC Schalke 04. “Over the last year I’ve had to deal with different club options,” he said now: “It’s all the nicer now to have this feeling that waiting and trusting in the right solution will ultimately result in this contract.”
“A very good deal for City”
He thanked Arminia Bielefeld fans, “but City and the Premier League were just too good for me to turn down. I can’t wait to get started, meet my teammates and work with Pep and his staff.”
Manchester sporting director Txiki Begiristain described the transfer as “a very good deal for City. Ortega, who was born near Kassel and was traded for the national team before, played for Arminia for a total of twelve years. “Of course we are incredibly proud that a player trained in our academy is now playing in one of the best teams in the world for the really big trophies,” the East Westphalians tweeted.
