Negotiation without a consultant: Casteels on his open future

Defensive to wait and see: Wolfsburg keeper Koen Casteels.

IMAGO/Eibner

The 13th game of the season without conceding a goal was within reach, but then it happened. A sharp cross from Hoffenheim’s Tom Bischof was deflected into his own goal by the otherwise cautious defender Josuha Guilavogui in added time. Koen Casteels, joint leader with Freiburg’s Mark Flekken when it comes to the “white vests” in the Bundesliga, was defeated.

“Last minute, own goal, of course that’s very annoying,” said the VfL keeper, for whom it was of course much more important that the three points in the 2-1 home win stayed in Wolfsburg.

The question of whether and how long Casteels will remain in Wolfsburg is left unanswered by the keeper. The 30-year-old’s contract expires in a year, and VfL have long signaled that they would like to extend the contract with the Belgian national goalkeeper (five appearances).

Fourth most Bundesliga appearances in VfL history

Casteels is open to further talks, but at the same time puts on the brakes a little: “I still have a year of contract, so it doesn’t have to be decided that quickly.” The fight for Europe is currently the priority anyway, “after that we still have enough time”.

Casteels has been between the posts in Wolfsburg since 2015 and has the fourth most appearances in VfL league history with 211 appearances. After eight years in Lower Saxony, it would be understandable if the top goalkeeper were concerned about whether he would like to see something else in his career. Casteels emphasizes: “I’m not actively looking for it now. But if something comes in, every player deals with it.”

There is nothing to suggest that an agreement will be reached very quickly

Sounding out the market, negotiating contracts, for which consultants are normally responsible, Casteels has been doing this for some time alone and with the support of his family. “That’s already done to my current contract,” reports the Belgian. His conviction: “Especially when you’re a bit older, you know the league and the football business, you don’t need a consultant to extend your contract.” And to find a new club?

Casteels don’t have dream clubs or countries, he explains, but he keeps his eyes open in all directions. “I let everything come to me, everything is open. I look at everything if something comes up, whether that would be interesting.”

At the same time, talks with VfL will continue, but there are currently no signs of a very quick agreement. The club also waited up to six months before the end of the contract with other players “to make a suggestion,” says Casteels. “That’s why I don’t see any stress.”