Max Kruse really started to occupy the thoughts of Frank Baumann for the first time at the end of June. It was actually during Baumann’s family holiday in Mallorca, when the departure of SVW striker Anthony Ujah was looking more and more likely. Baumann needed an alternative. “I contacted Max’s agent from Mallorca”, reports the sporting director. He admits that he really didn’t think they would be able to meet the transfer demands. “But I didn’t want to give up without even having tried.”
A month later, Kruse is sitting next to Baumann on the podium in the press conference room in the Weser-Stadion. After seven years away from the club, the 28-year-old is a Green-White once more – and both parties are extremely happy about it. “Max had other options as well, but we persevered and managed to convince him”, says Baumann. “After last year, which didn’t go very well for me, I want to enjoy playing football again. I will give everything to achieve that. I really don’t care what other people think of this transfer. I know that I can play better than I did last season, and now I want to prove that”, emphasises Kruse.
It is a return to the start of his professional career. Kruse knows Werder, the Weser-Stadion and the city better than most. Alongside Lennart Thy, Claudio Pizarro and Felix Wiedwald, Kruse is the fourth returning player in the current squad. And at the negotiating table as well, there was a noteworthy Green-White reunion. On Wolfsburg’s side of the table – Baumann’s former boss at Werder, Klaus Allofs. Negotiating for Werder – the former boss of Allofs’ current assistant, Klaus Filbry. Olaf Rebbe was also present. “It was a very strange situation”, reports Baumann with a smile on his face. On late Monday evening, an agreement was eventually reached, the news was released on Tuesday, and the official presentation took place on Wednesday.
Kruse walked in front of the cameras holding his favoured number 10 shirt in his hand. A moment to savour for the returning Green-White. It was about a lot more than the media attention, “because I chose to come to this club and I am happy to be here. The club has placed a lot of faith in me and I want to pay that back.” Kruse also made his position very clear on the figures, just as is expected from him. “The money was definitely not top priority. Obviously I could have gone abroad, but why should I run away or hide? That is not my style. I always hold my hands up”, says Kruse.
The attacker doesn’t want to dwell on last year at Wolfsburg anymore. That is history. Baumann is also not thinking about it. “Max gives everything for football and is someone who really enjoys life. Therefore, I have no concerns that anything will happen away from the club which will be a problem to us as employers. With his positive attitude, he will play a very important role in the dressing room”, says Baumann.
Werder’s new number ten proved his joy at being back through a Facebook video. In the car on his way from Hamburg to Bremen, Kruse filmed himself loudly singing along behind the wheel. “I really like singing, but I am not very good. Luckily we have Justin Bieber for that. No, but seriously: it just happened. I simply wanted to show that I am back, and I am very happy about it.”
