Mainz boss insists Nadiem Amiri will not be sold this summer | OneFootball

With lead striker Jonathan Burkardt on the verge of departing Mainz 05, the top executive at the Palatinate club has made it cleat that the team’s midfield talisman isn’t going anywhere this summer. Mainz sporting CEO Christian Heidel – quoted by Kicker – emphatically insisted that Nadiem Amiri will not be sold. The Bundesliga executive spoke to reporters at a Mainz training session.

Amiri had been linked with moves inter-Bundesliga moves to both RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund. The resurgent German national team midfielder – who nearly moved to Leeds United in the autumn of 2023 – has also reportedly attracted interest once again from abroad.

In his comments, Heidel revealed that Amiri had made a special commitment to the club at which he’s been able to revive his career. Amiri’s fondness for the Rheinhessen has never been in much doubt based on the player’s own statements this year.

Bayer Leverkusen sold Amiri to Mainz for a paltry €1m sum in January 2024. Since then, the Ludwigshafen-native has pumped up his estimated market value from a career-low of €4m back up to his career peak of €22m.

Amid interest from other clubs this summer, Mainz were said to demand nothing less than €40m for their set-piece wizard. Heidel did effectively confirm Burkardt’s transfer, but remained adamant about Amiri.

“We’re not letting him go. Period,” Heidel remarked on Wednesday. “He’s not going to say he wants the no. 10 [tricot] and then leave tomorrow. We’re 99.9 percent certain that he will remain.“

GGFN | Peter Weis