Julian Brandt: Marco Reus convinced me to join Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund new boy Julian Brandt has revealed that a conversation he held with Marco Reus on international duty swayed his decision to join the Bundesliga giants.

Brandt had been the subject of intense interest from the Premier League, with Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur both credited with a fondness of the ex-Bayer Leverkusen forward.

Why did Brandt join BVB? Five things to know…

• It was believed that Brandt’s Leverkusen contract included a €25m release clause.
• As such, various elite clubs were bandied about as possible destinations for the German.
• However, Brandt expressed an unwillingness to leave Germany.
• Brandt created more chances than any player in the Bundesliga last season, with 86.
• He has now revealed that Reus’ powers of persuasion captivated him.

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However, the Bundesliga’s creator king opted to become Dortmund’s third summer signing when he made his move to the Ruhr district official in May.

He was the third third-highest assist provider in the German top-flight last term and has now revealed how Die Borussen captain, Reus, enticed him to join the ranks at the Westfalenstadion.

He said: “He came to me for the first time on an international tour and said that he really wants me to come to Dortmund and I noticed that it was not the club that sent him off, but Marco did it on his own.

“He did not slobber me for three hours, it was maybe ten minutes, but I got on well with Marco in the national team, so I liked listening to it.

“It does something for you if a player like Marco tells you that, it’s good, he’s been a fantastic player for years, he was definitely one of the reasons that helped me come to BVB.”

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Dortmund’s busy business

Despite Lucien Favre enjoying a highly successful debut season in the Dortmund dugout, pushing Bayern Munich all the way for the Bundesliga title, he has sought to bolster his armoury substantially this summer.

The club has spent over £100m on five new signings and with the German transfer window not set to close until September 2, there could yet be one or two other new faces donning the famous yellow and black next season.

Favre has lost Abdou Diallo to PSG, but with three new defenders on the books in Nico Schulz, Mats Hummels and Mateu Morey, the Swiss coach will be hoping his trio of recruits can fill the Frenchman’s void.

Elsewhere, Thorgan Hazard has joined Brandt as the club’s only two forward acquisitions so far, remedying the gap that has been left by Christian Pulisic, who has since joined up with Chelsea.