Final training – the name says it all.

Because for Filip Kostic, the day before the UEFA Supercup against Real Madrid (Wednesday, 9 p.m., live on RTL) was the last time he put on his football boots for Eintracht and some of his crosses on the practice area at the Frankfurt Arena has hit.

Finally it is over now.

After weeks of tugging, Juventus has finally found the heart club, which Kostic, who was willing to change last year, will join.

Ralph Weitbrecht

sports editor.

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Around 15 million euros are under discussion, which Eintracht will receive from the Italians as transfer compensation.

In addition, there may be further bonus payments of around three million euros, assuming corresponding sporting success.

Evergreen of unity

The Causa Kostic was one of Eintracht's long-running favorites.

The 29-year-old Kostic, who was actually contractually bound to Frankfurt up to and including June 30, 2023, had repeatedly expressed the desire to change clubs.

It quickly became clear: Italy is the country of his longing dreams, where the Serb wants to be on the ball at the end of his career and economically better paid than in Germany.

Travelers should not be kept - Markus Krösche made this principle his own, because the sports director of Eintracht emphasized again on Tuesday: "Filip behaved in an exemplary manner in the past season and played a large part in winning the Europa League.

We've always said that we wouldn't put any obstacles in his way if the offer was good for all parties and that we were willing to talk.

We are currently in promising talks with another club and a solution is emerging,” said Krösche, who avoided talking specifically about Juventus after the final training session at lunchtime.

Instead, Krösche broke a lance for his other licensed players.

"We have a broad squad and we have a lot of trust in the boys, who all deserve their chance and are excited about the tasks ahead.

Against this background, we decided, also at the request of the possible new club, to play the game against Real Madrid without Filip."

Game for the history books

No big football stage anymore for Kostic in Eintracht dress.

The embarrassing 1: 6 against Bayern Munich at the start of the Bundesliga last Friday in Frankfurt was his last competitive game.

When the left winger was substituted in the 74th minute, he waved at the audience, clapped - and disappeared.

An unadorned departure.

This Wednesday, when Kostic, despite all his love for Italy, is probably sitting in front of the television and watching his long-time comrades play and fight against Real Madrid in the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, there will be another highlight at the interface between the old and new seasons.

UEFA Supercup, the duel of the Champions League winners Real against the Europa League triumphant Eintracht: Nothing like this has ever happened in Eintracht's long history.

A game for the history books – and as with the final in Seville, the opportunity to show off powerfully in advance.

Similar to the activities in the Andalusian capital, there will also be a big fan festival in the Finnish capital Helsinki.

The scene will be this Wednesday from 1 p.m. at Kaisaniemen Puisto, a large park near the main train station.

Some of the master players from 1959, who were also present a year later at the game of the century against Real Madrid in Glasgow in the packed Hampden Park, will also be at the Finnish fan festival, as will the former professionals and brand ambassadors Uwe Bindewald, Alexander Schur and Alexander Meier.

And of course the eloquent President Peter Fischer is not missing either.

Get in the mood for a top-class game in which the roles seem to be clearly divided.

Hardly anything speaks for Eintracht, but almost everything for Real.

For the club for which Vinicius Junior and Benzema alone scored 66 goals last season.

More than half of the Spaniards' 117 goals and more than the entire Eintracht Frankfurt squad.

For the club that has won the handle pot a total of 14 times.

The trophy that used to be given to the winner of the national championship competition and, since 1992, to the best in the Champions League.

Speaking of the Champions League: Assuming you are lucky enough to win, you could see Kostic again in the group stage.

Eintracht, seeded in pot one as Europa League winners in the draw on August 25, could face Juve.

The Turin team, who only finished fourth in the previous Serie A, are in pot two.