Hoffenheim Begins Preseason without Kramaric and Grillitsch

Hoffenheim Starts Preparations for New Bundesliga Season Without Kramaric and Grillitsch

Zuzenhausen - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim has begun preparations for the new Bundesliga season without star striker Andrej Kramaric and returning player Florian Grillitsch.

The duo was among the nine national team players who were absent from the public training session in Zuzenhausen. "They will join us at the latest on the first day of the training camp," said coach Pellegrino Matarazzo.

First League Match against Freiburg

Meanwhile, new signing Julian Justvan from SC Paderborn made his debut in front of 600 fans. Austrian international Grillitsch returned to Kraichgau after a year at Ajax Amsterdam and is expected to strengthen the TSG team as a leader. "We want to do better," said goalkeeper and captain Oliver Baumann after a disappointing previous season that unexpectedly involved a relegation battle.

Sports director Alexander Rosen, who was promoted to CEO last week, pointed out the nine departures, including Christoph Baumgartner to RB Leipzig, and said, "This already shows that the team will have a different look."

Hoffenheim's first league match is scheduled for August 19th or 20th against their Baden rival, SC Freiburg. They will also have a training camp in Kitzbühel from July 15th to 22nd. Bicakcic's Future Uncertain

The future of defender Ermin Bicakcic, a longtime favorite among Hoffenheim fans, remains uncertain. The 33-year-old Bosnian is reportedly in talks with the Bundesliga club after his contract expired on June 30th, following nine years with the team.

"A final decision has not been made yet," said Rosen at the start of training in Zuzenhausen on Sunday. However, he emphasized that Bicakcic had told him, "I want to continue playing football." The defender had struggled to return to professional football after a cruciate ligament injury in September 2020.