Maintain an upbeat atmosphere initially, yet without the presence of Enzo Millot.
In the picturesque town of Bad Cannstatt, VfB Stuttgart commenced their 2025/26 season with a training session, despite the absence of key player Enzo Millot due to "personal reasons." The sky above was a vibrant blend of white and blue, setting the perfect backdrop for the first day of the new campaign.
The Schlienz stadium, usually the training ground of choice, was unavailable due to renovation work, limiting the number of spectators. However, 1000 fans were present, with more potentially able to attend due to organisational reasons. Among the crowd was Fabian Wohlgemuth, the sports director, who expressed optimism for the team's success and enjoyment in all three competitions.
Enzo Millot's absence has sparked transfer speculation, with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and clubs from Saudi Arabia reportedly showing interest. The 22-year-old French midfielder has a €20 million release clause in his contract, potentially facilitating his departure from VfB Stuttgart this summer. However, there has been no official announcement regarding his transfer status as of yet.
The team, led by head coach Sebastian Hoeneß, began the season with 27 players, including 24 field players and 3 goalkeepers. Three new signings, Lorenz Assignon, Lazar Jovanovic, and Noah Darvich, were present, with the latter running individual laps during the session as he is gradually introduced to the team.
The training session saw the absence of Leonidas Stergiou and Jacob Bruun Larsen due to injury and rehabilitation respectively. Despite these absences, Hoeneß used the opportunity to give some youngsters from the club's own ranks a chance to train with the Bundesliga team. Efe Korkut, Mirza Catovic, Salvatore Mule, Lauri Penna, Cristopher Olivier, and goalkeeper Nils Richter were among those given the chance to shine.
Alexander Nübel, Maximilian Mittelstädt, Deniz Undav, and Ermedin Demirovic are expected to join the team on Saturday for a test match against SV Fellbach, bringing more national team talent to the squad. VfB Stuttgart's transfer policy focuses on developing professionals, and the team is aiming to compete in the Europa League, in addition to the league and cup.
As the team prepares for the upcoming season, there is a sense of anticipation and excitement. With the foundation for the new squad already laid, according to Wohlgemuth, VfB Stuttgart is poised to make a strong impact in the upcoming season, regardless of any potential player departures.
Fabian Wohlgemuth, the sports director, expressed his optimism for the team's success in all three competitions, indicating interest in the team's performance in sports, specifically football. Despite the absence of Enzo Millot due to personal reasons, transfer speculation surrounding Millot has arisen, with French midfielder Millot being linked to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and clubs from Saudi Arabia.
