VfB Stuttgart board chairman Alexander Wehrle has made his feelings clear about FC Bayern Munich's acquisition of marketing director Rouven Kasper, vowing the Bundesliga club will exact revenge in the future. The 44-year-old executive departs Stuttgart after four years to become Bayern's Director of Marketing and Sales from January 2026, succeeding Michael Diederich in the role.
Wehrle did not hold back when discussing the transfer at an event before Stuttgart's cup final against the record champions. "That stung. I won't forget that, Bayern. But you always meet twice in life," he told Bild, adding with a grin: "We'll get our own back on Bayern for that move one day." The Stuttgart chief admitted taking the departure personally, especially after stepping in as CEO for seven months during Kasper's tenure. "It's madness – and I didn't get a single euro," Wehrle quipped sarcastically.
Transfer Fee Waived as Kasper Requests Exit
Kasper's move came without financial compensation, as the executive requested Stuttgart terminate his contract—originally set to run until 2028—allowing Bayern to acquire him at no transfer fee. The 44-year-old returns to Munich after previously serving as President Asia from 2016 to 2021 before joining Stuttgart's board in January 2022. His impact on the club proved significant during a period of organizational restructuring and commercial expansion.
Stuttgart's supervisory board chairman Dietmar Allgaier acknowledged Kasper's contributions at the time of his departure: "During his time at VfB, he delivered outstanding service to our club and played a key role in our resurgence. Without his efforts, VfB would not be as strongly positioned as a company, business platform and brand as it is today." This statement underscores how critical Kasper's role proved in rebuilding Stuttgart's commercial infrastructure during their Bundesliga revival.
Kasper Reflects on Emotional Departure
Kasper responded to Wehrle's remarks with measured professionalism, acknowledging both the humor and sincerity behind his former boss's words. "Alex is not only a great person, but also mature enough. He'll easily get over it," Kasper reflected. While admitting the separation hurt personally—having worked closely alongside Wehrle—he expressed confidence in his decision and his adaptation to Munich. "Alex understood my decision, I don't regret the move, and I've settled in very well in Munich," he stated, signaling his focus remains on success at the Bavarian giants rather than Stuttgart's playful threat of retaliation.
The episode highlights the competitive tension between Stuttgart and Bayern, two of Germany's most ambitious clubs vying for supremacy in the Bundesliga and European competitions. As Stuttgart continues their resurgence under Wehrle's leadership, their next opportunity to test themselves against Bayern will reveal whether recent improvements can translate into tangible results against the record champions.
