![](https://assets.bundesliga.com/tachyon/sites/2/2020/09/imago0047934988h.jpg?crop=43px,0px,1349px,1080px&fit=540,540)
Max Kruse made "gut decision" to choose Union Berlin over Werder Bremen and the USA
Max Kruse is back in the Bundesliga having spent last season in Turkey with Fenerbahce. A fan favourite of a forward, Kruse had offers to go elsewhere, but something in his gut told him to sign for relative Bundesliga new boys, Union Berlin.
A Werder Bremen youth product, Kruse had scored 32 goals in 84 games in his second spell with die Grün-Weißen before leaving for Fenerbahce last June. On ending his contract this summer, Kruse was tipped to return, but he has chosen another path.
"It was a gut feeling," Kruse told the Berliner Kurier of his decision to sign for Union. "From the moment I met [sporting director] Oliver Ruhnert, I had a good feeling. I remembered the electric atmosphere here that you can feel even on TV, and of course, Berlin's a good place to live."
Watch: Kruse's Top 5 Bundesliga goals
![](/assets/placeholder/resp_live_placeholder_image_home.jpg)
An entertaining figure on and off the field, Kruse finished third in the 2014 World Series of Poker in Nevada. Despite also having offers to relocate to the USA full-time, the forward - capped 14 times by Germany - still thought he had something to show in the Bundesliga.
"The only [other option] I was still thinking about was a move to the US, because my son lives there," he said. "Unfortunately, I haven't seen so much of him over the last 10 years and it feels like a good time to set that right."
"But in the end, I wanted to continue my career at the highest level. I just want to remind the people in Germany what I can do."
Kruse may not start Union's season opener at home to Augsburg due to an ankle injury. The 32-year-old has worked hard on his fitness, though, and when he does return, it should be well worth the wait.
Related news
![Michael Olise, João Palhinha and Bayern Munich's top 5 summer transfers so far](/assets/placeholder/resp_live_placeholder_image_home.jpg)
Olise, Palhinha and Bayern's top 5 summer transfers
Bayern have been busy in the summer transfer window, signing Michael Olise, João Palhinha and more…
![Official Bundesliga 2 transfer centre: Summer 2024](/assets/placeholder/resp_live_placeholder_image_home.jpg)
Official Bundesliga 2 transfer centre: Summer 2024
Read up on all the ins and outs across Bundesliga 2 throughout the summer transfer window...
![Official Bundesliga transfer centre: Summer 2024](/assets/placeholder/resp_live_placeholder_image_home.jpg)
Official Bundesliga transfer centre: Summer 2024
Read up on all the ins and outs across the Bundesliga in this summer transfer window...