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A mid-season move continues to cause tension between VfB Stuttgart and FC Bayern München, with many at Stuttgart still unhappy about how it unfolded.

After four years in his position, Marketing Director Rouven Kasper is set to leave VfB Stuttgart in January 2026 to take over as FC Bayern’s new Director of Marketing and Sales, succeeding Michael Diederich.

“That one hurt. I won’t forget that, Bayern. But you always cross paths twice in life,” VfB board chairman Alexander Wehrle told Bild during an event held before the cup final against the record titleholders, smiling as he added, “We’ll get our revenge on Bayern for that move someday.”

Wehrle admitted that he took Kasper’s decision to leave quite “personally,” explaining that he had to step in as CEO for seven months after Kasper’s departure. “It’s crazy – and I didn’t earn a single euro for that,” he joked sarcastically.

Kasper had asked VfB Stuttgart to end his contract early — even though it was valid until 2028 — allowing FC Bayern to sign him without paying any compensation fee. The 44-year-old had previously worked with the Munich-based club from 2016 to 2021 as “President Asia” before joining the Stuttgart board in January 2022.

FC Bayern have brought Kasper in on a free transfer after VfB Stuttgart agreed to let him pursue his wish to return to the Bavarian giants.

At the time, Dietmar Allgaier, Chairman of the Supervisory Board and President of VfB Stuttgart, stated: “We have accepted Rouven Kasper’s request to take on this new professional challenge because, throughout his time at VfB, he made an excellent contribution to our club and played an essential part in our revival. Without his dedication, VfB would not be as strong today as a company, business platform, and brand.”

Kasper himself took Wehrle’s comments with good humour, seeing no offence in them. “Alex is not only a great person but also mature enough to handle it. He’ll get over it easily. Personally, of course, it’s painful not sitting next to each other anymore. But we’re moving forward. Alex understood my decision, I have no regrets about the move, and I’ve settled in very well in Munich,” Kasper concluded.