After three misses, well-heeled Schalke finally snapped away one of the stars of high-flying rival VfB Stuttgart.
Schalke, one of the few Bundesliga teams loaded with cash, announced Tuesday that it has agreed to terms with Marcelo Bordon, the boss of Stuttgart's Bundesliga best defense.
Schalke dangled big contracts in front of young Germany internationals Kevin Kuranyi and Andreas Hinkel, as well as Stuttgart coach Felix Magath. All three decided to stay with the up-and-coming team, qualified for the Champions League's second round.
"Marcelo Bordon has a sensational offer in front of him. We can't compete in this category. It's too bad that he will leave us," Magath said of his team, still struggling to wipe away 15 million euros (US$19 million) in debt.
Schalke will have to wait until 2005 for Boldon, when his current contract expires with the fourth-placed club, which topped the Bundesliga until a late slump before the winter break. Stuttgart spurned a transfer fee worth millions it could have earned for letting him go at the end of this season.
The signing of the Brazilian Bordon, a key player on a defense that opened the season with a Bundesliga record 885 unscored upon minutes, continued Schalke's aggressive wooing of its Bundesliga rivals' top players.
Schalke has already acquired the league's top scorer, Bremen's Ailton, for next season.
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