Marcel Sabitzer's sporting significance at Borussia Dortmund has diminished. Under manager Niko Kovac, the midfielder has become a part-time player. There was even speculation about his departure from BVB during the summer, but no suitable buyer emerged for the experienced player. Nevertheless, the 32-year-old appears keen to prove himself once more with the black and yellows. He has now made a surprising decision to do so.

As became known on Sunday, Sabitzer will not be available to the Austrian national team in the Nations League. What happens next remains unclear.

Sabitzer explained that he had agreed with national team manager Ralf Rangnick in trusting and open discussions to take a break now and discuss at the beginning of next year whether he will return to the national team for the Euro qualification. The former regular player cited the past two years as having been very intense. A dense schedule awaits him in Dortmund again. At 32 years old, he wants to play football at the highest level for several more years and must manage his energy carefully.

Rangnick expressed understanding for the considerations of the 102-time international player. He was pleased that Sabitzer would generally be available again when needed, which showed him how important the national team still is to him.

On Monday, the German manager will announce his eagerly awaited squad for the Nations League matches against Israel, Kosovo, and Ireland.

BVB exit for Sabitzer reportedly decided

At Borussia Dortmund, Sabitzer is only bound until the end of June 2027, and the signs clearly point to a separation. According to Sport Bild, a contract extension is currently ruled out.

Whether the experienced player will remain in Dortmund until his contract expires or seeks a new challenge in the winter transfer window remains unclear. Sabitzer switched from Bayern Munich to the Ruhr Valley in 2023 for a transfer fee of 19 million euros.