It’s not too unfair to say Benedikt Howedes wasn’t treated brilliantly by Schalke over the summer. The German club, experts at making their own negative situations, had taken the captaincy from their long serving defender, because he wasn’t automatic first choice.
At Schalke since 2001, and having turned down a string of opportunities to leave, it seemed a little rash. Howedes and his agent looked towards the exit, and he ended up with a brilliant move to Juventus.
It wasn’t the only possibility. At the time time, both Arsenal and Leicester City were linked with the German defender, and Volker Struth, the agent involved, has confirmed there was contact with the Premier League clubs.
Speaking to SportBild, Struth explained: “Of course, we also contacted other clubs. There were talks with AS Roma, Leicester City and Arsenal, because we heard here that Mustafi was intercepted by Inter Milan.”
Neither the Arsenal or Leicester options made it very far, with Shkodran Mustafi staying where he was, and the Foxes taking other options, but Struth says Juventus was always Howedes’ favoured destination anyway.
That’s understandable.
The Turin club are one of Europe’s most successful right now, with a great reputation for getting the best out of older players. At 29 years of age the move, initially on loan, is an exciting opportunity for Howedes.
