Gojko Kacar has finally brought the long disputed rumours about his future to an end, as he extended his contract with Hamburg after five years at the Bundesliga club until June 2016.
The reasons for extending
The midfielder flew directly to Hamburg's training camp in Switzerland after he signed his new contract, greeting his teammates before undergoing pre-season fitness tests this morning.
The Serbian also talked to the media about his new contract, saying that he is "very happy", about staying at the club. He revealed that there were "some other clubs interested", but had "hoped the whole time" to stay at Hamburg.
Speaking about his manager Bruno Labbadia, he also added that "Labbadia is a super coach," telling the press that "I feel delighted to continue to work with him."
There had been much speculation about whether money was the deciding factor in Kacar's reason for not signing a new contract so quickly, but he denied this, saying "it's not about money, but the love for the game."
New talent for HSV
Batuhan Altintas has been added to the Hamburg squad, as the club finally confirmed the Turk's signature. Altintas signed a two-year contract, with an option of two more years.
Dietmar Beiersdorfer is happy about the new talent for the club and said that "we have contacts with him for a half year. He is a big talent and he stems from a football-family, because his father was playing for Galatasaray Istanbul."
The 18-year old Turk striker joined from Bursaspor, where he didn't play for a year, because of a suspension. In Turkey, Altintas is regarded as a top-talent and the 1.87m-tall striker is a youth international for the country's under-19 squad.
Journalists from the Turkish side reported that "Altintas could become a very good player," providing that "HSV develop him properly." They concluded that "the suspension should not be a big handicap for him, because Altintas trained a lot with a private fitness coach."