"Outrageous" parties and "cowardly" club officials: BVB full-back Thomas Meunier has issued scathing criticism of his former club, PSG, with whom he would have preferred to complete the current Champions League campaign.
But despite looking forward to the new Bundesliga season, the 28-year-old would have preferred to have been in Lisbon, finishing the Champions League campaign with his former club Paris Saint-Germain, who are preparing for their quarterfinal against Atalanta on Wednesday.
"I would have liked to have played," Meunier told Belgian broadcaster RTBF. "I was with my agent in Dortmund and I was almost on my knees begging for permission to let me end the season in the Champions League with PSG."
Dortmund were reportedly prepared to let him do so, under certain conditions, but Meunier claims that PSG sporting director Leonardo "never once tried to reach an agreement with BVB, let alone with me."
Leonardo denied that, insisting that Meunier had requested his new Borussia Dortmund salary for the extra two months – "impossible," according to the Brazilian.
But the Belgian fullback says that the French club's approach was much less amiable. "I simply had to pack my bags and I received a letter from the club's lawyer which said I was no longer welcome and could no longer come to training, not even in my final week," he said. "I found that unbelievable."
No further personal talks ever took place, claims Meunier, only an email via his agent which he described as "pretty cowardly."
'Outrageous' parties
Meunier insists that he enjoyed his four years in the French capital and wishes his former teammates all the best, but he also made some revealing observations about life at the Qatar-owned club.
Advertisement
"Nothing but birthday parties – incredible," said the former Club Bruges player. "When I was at Bruges, we'd celebrate birthdays by playing darts or pool in a bar, but here it's just outrageous. But that just reflects the club: hire a palace, hire a building, parties with hundreds of people. That's when you see that they're more than footballers; they're stars.
"I always had a good time but it was all a bit extravagant and 'did you see me?' But that's part of it, part of the game."
"I had goosebumps during that entire game," he told German media last week. "It was the first time I had played in a stadium as big as that and in such an atmosphere. There are many more fans in Dortmund and they were all standing and screaming. I just thought: 'Wow, I'll be here next year.'"
If PSG were the hunted in France, Dortmund are the hunters in Germany – a role which Meunier suits him.
"With the squad that we have, and hopefully everyone stays, we can win something. Even this season."
Top fixtures of the 2020-21 Bundesliga season
The DFL has announced the fixture list for the new Bundesliga season, in which some fans are expected to return to the terraces. DW picks the top games to look out for and when and where they are taking place.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/P. Szysa
Der Klassiker: Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund
Matchday 7, November 7-9, 2020 — Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund<br></br>Matchday 24, March 5-8, 2021 — Allianz Arena, Munich<br></br>Bayern have won the league eight times on the bounce, but BVB will still be aiming to challenge for the title. "We have the quality to win the Bundesliga, but talking is not enough," star striker Erling Haaland (right) recently told <i>Sport Bild</i>.
Image: picture- alliance/E. Kremser Hoermann
Revier derby: Borussia Dortmund vs. Schalke
Matchday 5, October 23-26, 2020 — Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund<br></br>Matchday 22, February 19-22, 2021 — Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen<br></br>It's the Bundesliga's most well-known derby. With Dortmund's title ambitions and Schalke's financial struggles, the Yellow and Blacks will most likely be favored. But if past derbies have proved anything, it is that this fixture never plays out as expected.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/I. Fassbender
Borussen derby: Borussia Dortmund vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach
Matchday 1, September 18-21, 2020 — Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund<br></br>Matchday 18, January 22-25, 2021 — Borussia Park, Mönchengladbach<br></br>This derby will be the highlight of the Bundesliga's opening weekend. Though not a regional rivalry, the fixture has had many classics. Thorgan Hazard (center) is one of the handful of Dortmund players that have suited up for both clubs in his career.
Image: Reuters/W. Rattay
Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach
Matchday 15, December 8-11, 2020 — Borussia Park, Mönchengladbach<br></br>Matchday 32, May 7-10, 2021 — Allianz Arena, Munich<br></br>The Foals have taken more points off Bayern during the Bavarian's run of eight-straight league titles. After spending eight weeks atop the table last season, Gladbach hope to be in title contention again during the coming campaign.
Image: Reuters/R. Orlowski
Bayern Munich vs. RB Leipzig
Matchday 10, December 4-7, 2020 — Allianz Arena, Munich<br></br>Matchday 27, May 3-5, 2021 — Red Bull Arena, Leipzig<br></br>Leipzig will be looking to improve their record in the fixture after just one win in their first 10 games against the Bavarians. The Red Bull-backed club, who are also candidates to unseat Bayern as league champions, are still searching for their first major trophy.
Image: AFP/T. Kienzle
Berlin derby: Hertha vs. Union
Matchday 10, December 4-7, 2020 — Olympiastadion<br></br>Matchday 27, May 3-5, 2021<br></br>After the first top flight bouts last season, Hertha and Union are set to battle it out once more in the German capital. With Both sides making intriguing signings in the offseason, this season's Berlin derby will be a fixture to watch.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Pedersen
Rhine derby: Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Cologne
Matchday 3, October 2-4, 2020 — RhineEnergieStadion, Cologne<br></br>Matchday 20, February 5-8, 2021 — Borussia Park, Mönchengladbach<br></br>Despite uncertainty as to whether fans will be allowed to attend either of the two games, the rivalry between these two archrivals will not be lacking motivations as both sides battle for bragging rights in the region.
Image: imago images/J. Huebner
Hamburg Derby: HSV vs. St. Pauli
Matchday 6, October 30 to November 2, 2020 — Volksparkstadion<br></br>Matchday 23, February 26 to March 1, 2021 — Millerntor-Stadion<br></br>It is a second division fixture, but it is a highly anticipated one nonetheless. Underdogs St. Pauli won both derbies convincingly last season, and the 2020-21 rivalry promises to be just as interesting.
