When RB Leipzig offered Dani Olmo to Barcelona, they misplaced their greatest participant, the person whose hat-trick had gained them final 12 months’s German Supercup earlier than occurring to star for Spain at Euro 2024. However they gained extra than simply cash from his departure.
Marcel Schafer, Leipzig’s new sporting director, talks of Olmo’s sale “confirming the philosophy” and it’s straightforward to grasp what he means. Olmo signed at 21, spent four-and-a-half seasons with the membership, successful three trophies, earlier than being offered for a revenue.
His shirt has been handed to Norwegian teenager Antonio Nusa, a precocious expertise introduced in from Membership Brugge. Nusa scored the successful objective on his Bundesliga debut towards Bochum final month. At Leipzig, simply as they deliberate it, the cycle continues.
Requested by Sky Sports activities if the Olmo instance helps to persuade Nusa and others, Schafer agrees. “It is not only Dani Olmo. It is Josko Gvardiol, Dominik Szoboszlai, Christopher Nkunku and many more examples who were at Leipzig for a certain time,” he explains.
“Gamers positively wish to come to Leipzig. They see big potential. Six years in a row, the membership has performed within the Champions League, at all times with a really younger group. It’s a excellent membership, not solely in Germany, even in the entire of Europe, for high younger skills.
RB Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schafer explains the membership’s philosophy
“We aren’t unhappy about it, we’re joyful to convey Dani to his greatest stage. Everybody noticed it in the summertime. He was completely among the best gamers, a key participant for Spain, excellent moments within the match. And now we can assist him go to Barcelona.
“This is exactly what Antonio Nusa and others see. It is not really a big thing to convince them because they know through Leipzig’s history that we are the perfect club to help them for a certain time in their career and then bring them to the absolute top clubs.”
These others embrace Arthur Vermeeren, a 19-year-old midfielder from Atletico Madrid and Lutsharel Geertruida, a title winner beneath Arne Slot at Feyenoord, who’s one thing of an outlier on the age of 24. In Leipzig phrases, that qualifies him as nearly a veteran.
“The strategy is to sign young, hungry, high potential players, but we even need players who have a little bit more experience, who help us to support the young players, especially on the pitch and even in the locker room, to help them to grow and to learn.”
It’s a technique that has been refined over years now. “We always want young and hungry players because this is a philosophy.” Olmo, Gvardiol, Szoboszlai and Nkunku have moved on however Europe’s largest golf equipment know the place the subsequent superstars are coming from.
RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko has signed a brand new contract with the membership
Lois Openda had an impressive first season at Leipzig, scoring 28 objectives. There may be Benjamin Sesko, the Slovenian striker who shocked some by signing a brand new contract. Xavi Simons has returned for a second season on mortgage from Paris Saint-Germain.
“Xavi Simons was like Dani Olmo, one of the best players in Europe and one of the high potential stars of last summer. But he was very clear about his personal career plan. He wants to be a key player. He wants to be a leader to help him take the next step.”
All of which helps to clarify why gamers are so eager to affix. Champions League alternatives for younger gamers are to be cherished. Leipzig present that platform. However the query of how they develop the gamers as soon as within the constructing is simply as important.
“The most important part, if you want to work to develop young players every single day, is that you need a very good infrastructure,” says Schafer. “We have it. If you see our infrastructure here, the pitches, the training facility, it is really on a high level.”
He continues: “The second most important part is a good coaching staff and we have a very good head coach in Marco Rose.” The previous Borussia Dortmund boss has gained silverware in every of his first two seasons, whereas qualifying for the Champions League.
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Leverkusen’s unbeaten Bundesliga run lastly got here to an finish as they misplaced to Leipzig
“It is not only the head coach, it is the people around the team, our medical staff, our athletic team, even the cooks who prepare the meals and handle the players’ nutrition. We have experts around the players to help them every single day to become better.”
If there’s a concern, it’s the chance that Leipzig’s mannequin has change into so profitable that others are in search of to emulate it. From the enjoying type to the multi-club construction, even the broader development of investing in youth has change into de rigueur. Schafer is relaxed.
“I think we have an advantage because we confirmed the philosophy for really several years. You will not find many clubs who produce or develop more top young talents than Leipzig and the other Red Bull clubs. So I think still we have a good advantage.”
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Schafer, who spent 17 years at Wolfsburg earlier than making this transfer, is clearly relishing his new position. “Every single day I wake up with a smile even if it is sometimes raining a lot. It is a privilege to work in such a great environment.” However there are nonetheless questions.
Leipzig would like to convey by way of a participant of their very own from the academy quite than depend on their exceptional recruitment. After which there may be that perennial matter of progress. Is the plan at all times to promote the celebrities? Might they not maintain them and win all of it?
“We are realistic,” provides Schafer. ” We are all convinced there is the possibility to compete with very good teams in all competitions, even the Champions League. But there are maybe 10 more clubs in Europe who we know are maybe above us.”
For now, the plan is to stay to the plan. “All the top young talents consider Leipzig. They have Leipzig in their focus.” Like Olmo, these gamers are sure for the highest. Whether or not they’ll in the future nonetheless be carrying a Leipzig shirt after they get there, stay unclear.
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