Off to the second division?

Club search unsuccessful: Sarkaria now sidelined

After David Affengruber, Manprit Sarkaria is the second player from Sturm Graz's championship-winning squad to miss out on a top transfer. 

The attacker, who was still part of the ÖFB squad in November, is now sidelined at Sturm. The door to the first team is closed, as head of sport Andreas Schicker confirmed to APA. "Because with Biereth, Jatta, Camara, Yardımcı and Grgic, we have good strikers who are also an investment from the club."

Sarkaria had tried to move abroad for the first time in his career at the age of 28 on his own initiative. "Making a top transfer without an advisor is almost impossible these days," said Schicker. "Mani has always behaved well, I have to say. But we made a decision in our squad planning after he informed us that he wanted to move."

Now in the second division?
Sarkaria, who scored 37 goals and provided 29 assists in 112 games for Sturm, did not find his dream destination. "In the end, he turned down one or two transfers where there would have been agreement from the Sturm Graz side. That's his right, he still has a year left on his contract," said Schicker. He now hopes that the Cup hero of 2023 will warm up to playing for Sturm II in the 2nd division. "He would be well advised to do the same, because he also needs games with a view to a move in the winter."

Affengruber (23) now defends for FC Elche, 19th in the Spanish second division.