Abel willing to make Schalke switch
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Article summary
FC Schalke 04 have signed 1. FSV Mainz 05 defender Mathias Abel, who will move to Gelsenkirchen next year.
Article body
European chance
The 24-year-old has agreed a four-year contract from the start of the 2006/07 campaign and is available on a free transfer. Despite not being part of Schalke's forthcoming assault on the UEFA Champions League, Abel will be able to play for Mainz in the UEFA Cup, starting against FC MIKA of Armenia in the first qualifying round.
'Enormous potential'
"We regret his decision because we would have liked to keep him," said Mainz manager Christian Heidel. "We all hope he will continue his sensational development and don't doubt his commitment to the club." Meanwhile, Andreas Müller, Heidel's counterpart at Schalke, said: "He has got enormous potential and can become an extremely valuable player for us."
