Just a few weeks after returning to MT Melsungen, Johannes Golla told the club he wanted to move back to SG Flensburg-Handewitt. On Handbollskanalen’s podcast Inspel & Utspel, sporting director Jesper Larsson discusses his conversations with Ljubomir Vranjes – and why Melsungen have no intention of letting their star leave before his contract expires in 2031.
Johannes Golla had only been back at Melsungen for a couple of weeks when he informed the club that he could see himself returning to Flensburg in the future. Now, Melsungen’s Swedish sporting director Jesper Larsson opens up about the situation surrounding the German national team captain – and the club’s firm stance.
“We are not particularly interested in losing, in my opinion, one of the world’s best line players and defenders at short notice,” Larsson says on Handbollskanalen’s podcast Inspel & Utspel.
Golla was the big homecoming signing ahead of the season. He returned to the club where he came through as a youngster and to the region where he grew up. He signed a contract until 2031. And yet, the situation arose almost immediately.
Larsson stresses that Golla’s desire to leave has nothing to do with sporting reasons. According to the sporting director, it is entirely related to personal and family circumstances.
“If you talk to Johannes, he will never say anything bad about the people working here or the club itself.”
Several conversations with Ljubomir Vranjes
On the podcast, Larsson is asked how many times Flensburg sporting director Ljubomir Vranjes has contacted him since it became clear that Golla wanted to leave and return to his former club.
“Ljubo and I have been in contact four or five times since mid-August. But so far, we haven’t found a solution to the dilemma,” he says.
Golla is under contract until 2031. Larsson does not completely rule out a transfer, but makes it clear that Melsungen are in a strong negotiating position.
“There are always possibilities to terminate a contract or find a way out. But the fact remains that there is a contract until 2031, and if we are going to find a solution, we have to sit down together first.”
“In the short term, we cannot replace Johannes Golla. That is a fact.”
Melsungen holding firm on Golla
Larsson also stresses that Golla’s situation is not related to handball or his working environment at Melsungen. The club has offered support, including counselling and psychological assistance, but Golla has chosen to handle the situation in his own way.
Exactly how the Golla situation will play out remains to be seen. Melsungen’s position is clear: the German captain is under contract until 2031, and there is no straightforward replacement available.
“We will be pretty hard-nosed about it,” Larsson says on Inspel & Utspel.
The full conversation with Jesper Larsson is available in this week’s episode of Inspel & Utspel. Melsungen’s sporting director discusses the Golla situation in greater detail, his first year in the role at a German top club and which Swedish players he would like to bring to Melsungen.
The episode is released on Friday.