The president of the German football federation Wolfgang Niersbach has welcomed the news that Marco Reus has extended his contract with Borussia Dortmund.

Reus put pen to paper on a new deal until 2019 with the Westphalians on Tuesday, bringing an end to speculation linking him with a move abroad in the summer.

Real Madrid were one club understood to be interested in the 25-year-old, who would have been available for just 25 million euros in the summer, but that buy-out clause has now been removed from his new contract, meaning he is set to stay in the Bundesliga with Dortmund next year.

“It was very good news for Borussia Dortmund and also for the Bundesliga,” Niersbach said.

“I think it’s great when the majority of Germany internationals play in the Bundesliga.”

Reus’s contract will also be valid should Dortmund be relegated to the second division, although the last man to guide them to Champions League glory, Ottmar Hitzfeld, does not feel that is going to happen.

“This is bound to give them a boost,” Hitzfeld reckoned.

“It’s a sign that Dortmund mean business again. Their next two games are going to be decisive. If they win both of them, then I think Dortmund still have a chance of finishing fifth or sixth.”

Hitzfeld has also tipped Dortmund to do well in the Champions League this season, suggesting their league struggles could lead their opponents to under-estimate them.

“They are a good outside bet,” he said.

“They have nothing to lose. Given their current league position, nobody is expecting anything from them.”

Dortmund face Juventus in the last 16 of the Champions League while last weekend’s 3-0 win at Freiburg has lifted them out of the direct relegation zone in the Bundesliga and up to 16th.

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