Schalke's Amine Harit on his short-lived Borussia Dortmund hair-do
Amine Harit has revealed that he dyed his hair in the colours of Schalke's local rivals Borussia Dortmund in order to honour a bet.
Harit came off the bench in the first half of last month’s Revierderby, scored his first Bundesliga goal and played through a late injury as the Royal Blues produced a staggering comeback from 4-0 down to draw 4-4.
A photograph the 20-year-old posted on social media soon afterwards showed that he had dyed his hair in the yellow and black colours of Dortmund.
Harit later unveiled a more conventional look and suggested the previous colour choices were just "a stage" in the dyeing process. But the summer signing from Nantes has now admitted that the initial change was as a result of a derby-themed wager.
"I made a bet with a friend," Harit told German website Sportbuzzer.
"If I score in the derby against Borussia Dortmund, I have to dye my hair in BVB’s jersey colours. I scored and I kept my promise."
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Schalke’s strong start to the season under new manager Domenico Tedesco has seen them leapfrog Dortmund in the standings. Club executives are now starting to believe that the Royal Blues can finish the campaign ahead of their local rivals but Harit believes it is important that the players focus on themselves.
“We’re only concentrating on our own performances, which we can influence ourselves,” the Morocco international said.
"For our fans it would obviously be something special. I’m not here long but I’ve already understood that Dortmund are our biggest rivals."
Harit scored twice and made two more goals in his first 14 league appearances for Schalke and he could see himself staying in Gelsenkirchen for the long term.
"Why not at Schalke?," he said, when asked where he saw himself being in five years’ time.
"You never know. When I’m getting my game and the club are playing in Europe I can imagine myself staying here. Maybe I’ll stay for a couple of years or maybe I’ll spend the rest of my career with Schalke."