After much speculation, it was confirmed today that Max Kruse has completed a move back to his former club, Werder Bremen. The deal was confirmed this evening by Bremen, as he moved from Wolfsburg for a fee believed to be around the €6 million mark.

A lively career

Kruse spent his developing years at Bremen, when he took the leap from youth football to professional football, being promoted from a member of the Werder Bremen U19s team to their first team in 2007.

After three years at the club, Kruse made the move to St. Pauli, as his time at Bremen was tainted by injuries and insufficient game time. His travels continued as he spent a year representing SC Freiburg before moving to Borussia Mönchengladbach, in which the attacker caught the Bundesliga spotlight.

Kruse contributed to 47 goals in 77 appearances for Borussia, earning him a call up to represent the national team. It seemed that Kruse was eager to keep his club connections short once more, as he departed die Fohlen to join VfL Wolfsburg for €10m last summer.

Kruse in action for Bremen in his first spell at the club. | Source: Bild
Kruse in action for Bremen in his first spell at the club. | Source: Bild

A strange series of events 

Things haven’t been easy for Kruse in recent times, as his career took a huge dip following his move to Wolfsburg as his hobbies outside of the pitch took centre stage in the media. He was excused from the national team prior to the European Championship by Joachim Löw due to irresponsible and unprofessional behaviour including playing poker, the loss of a huge sum of money and his deep love for Nutella.

This of course effected his footballing reputation, as highlighted by his huge drop in value. The striker’s price tag has dropped by almost 50%, despite scoring nine goals in a depleted Wolfsburg side in all competitions last season. Kruse’s misfortune came as a positive for his former club, as die werderaner snatched up the opportunity to bring their former youth graduate back to the club.

Bremen were fortunate to survive the relegation drop last season, clearing the playoff scrap by two points. Rejuvenated by Kruse’s return, can Viktor Skrypnyk’s greens remain in the top flight once more?

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