Borussia Dortmund: Klopp's talent of the century may now talk

The predominantly British golf tourists who had just finished their rounds were amazed, not bad about the turmoil before their five-star hostel. As a skinny guy standing in a yellow shirt and long pants made of balloon silk in front of the posh hotel "Monte Castillo, a three-high cheese with a pale face and an embarrassed smile.

And before him wrestled the photographers and cameramen for the best picture of this 18-year-old Linnet. The well-heeled ladies and gentlemen in England who have billeted on the outskirts of the Andalusian Jerez de la Frontera, could have know him if they would be interested in football instead of golf and also have interest in the German Bundesliga.


Because of Mario idol who is preparing at present in Spain with league leaders Borussia Dortmund in the second half, is also the home of football has already been reported positive. Manchester United and Arsenal were said to be interested in the boy. In addition, also said Real Madrid, Juventus and AC Milan, to have his eye on Idol.

In any case, until the Dortmund went on the safe and extended the contract with the midfielder prematurely in October 2014. The hype surrounding "one of the greatest talents we've ever had," as Matthias Sammer, the sports director of the German Football Federation (DFB), the midfielder had described, is also the reason why the Borussia Idol in the past year by the public were screened.

He should concentrate on football, coach Jürgen Klopp had decided and imposed an interview ban. What idol was not obviously wrong, as is now clear. For when he on Wednesday afternoon at the Monte Castillo, the first time before the assembled press was, he seemed more nervous than before a big game.

He seemed tense, almost shy in the face of many journalists. The question and answer game, he seemed to have not really needed. "Of course," said Goetze, would be his rapid development, which he has lived through, yet "appeared unrealistic a few months." But despite his considerable achievements in the middle of the field at Dortmund, who have him now to put in the national team, it had no worry about him.

"I have a very sound environment," he says, "make my family and my friends already that I stay on the carpet." Then, after these standardized rates to the introduction, granted idol but a little insight into his emotional life. "If a young player in this Dortmund stadium with 80,000 spectators enters, it is certainly a special moment," he said, and reminded his audience that he had only a few years earlier than in the Dortmund Arena along with other youth players of the BVB Ball boy had been involved.

At that time he had dreamed of playing time later on this lawn. And then suddenly everything happened very quickly: at the beginning of the 2009/10 season he won the Bundesliga Klopp team, on 21 November 2009 he was aged 17 years and five months on his league debut. A year later he was at the match against Sweden in the 76th had he was the youngest German international since Uwe Seeler, who in 1954 also given as a 17-year-old made his debut - minute substitute.

"I was very nervous," he recalls his first meeting with the prominent colleagues, of which he had most of their "only on TV" known. He had "a lot of respect" before stars such as Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm had, he said. Joachim Loew, however, had a very different impression of idol.

would have the "naturalness" with which had the talent built, he previously seen in any other 18-year-old praised the coach: "He came, he would have been two or three years, while confident, ball safely, imaginative. "After the 2012 European forecast Loew, Idol could be an essential part of the national team.

In association, he is already a service provider. 21 Bundesliga games, has been denied Idol, scored two goals here. He bribed in the first round of clarity, speed and outstanding technology. "He is incredibly well for his age. I flaxen always with him and say, 'You do not mean to tell me that you're actually only 18,' "said teammate Nuri Sahin of Idol?.

The German-Turk himself only 22, is one of the leading players who care intensely about idol. For he knows how important it is, despite the hype not to be crazy. How idol Sahin was five years ago as a century talent. There was a sudden crash, only two years ago Sahin was back to the old top form.

"We are aware of so reticent when it comes to Mario, because we have experienced at Nuri, which can happen if the expectation is for a young talent too high," warns Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc against the praise of idols According to sing. He was indeed very established, but at this age are setbacks and fluctuations can not be excluded, warned Zorc ".

We must not forget that until the summer of 2011 theoretically should play in the A-youth" Instead Idol struggling with the BVB professionals for the championship. He will be in the coming weeks more urgently needed than in the first round. Since Shinji Kagawa be parked for the duration of the Asian Cup (7 to 29 January) for the Japanese national team needs coach Klopp need for first-round matches back a new playmaker.

Hottest candidate for the royal position behind the strikers is idol. "I think that I could play this role, I've finally done it more often," the young man said boldly. After the answer, he smiled sheepishly, as if he just realized that this was a pretty confident statement. In any event, by his standards.

• Klopp denies approach from Liverpool (03/01/2011)
• Borussia Dortmund's Road To Recovery (28/10/2010)
• Borussia Dortmund Heading For Ten-Point Lead With 1-0 Advantage At Halftime (05/12/2010)
• Jurgen Klopp went ballistic on a fourth official (13/11/2010)
• Jurgen Klopp Signs New Contract At Borussia Dortmund (26/11/2010)

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