Ralf Rangnick, Leipzig Sports Director and coach, could not deny a winter change of the midfield jewel before the duel against Salzburg.
Leipzig – The question of a change of Salzburg’s midfield jewel Amadou Haidara continues to occupy fans and media before the duel with RB Leipzig. Leipzig’s sports director and trainer Ralf Rangnick did not want to comment on this in advance, but could not deny the supposedly already decided winter deal either.
“I’m not talking about players playing elsewhere,” said Rangnick with regard to a possible change of the 20-year-old from Mali. A good two weeks ago, however, he himself had fuelled speculation about Haidara, who had been associated with his “big brother” for months. The transfer of two Kicker to Leipzig in the winter break is already decided thing, said Rangnick at that time. A finger pointing that Haidara is one of the two was Rangnick further statement on Wednesday. That the Malian team player is not one of the two new ones, he did not want to confirm there. He was content with pointing out that it had been agreed not to mention any names.
Yaya Toure Honours
Chelsea
- Premier League: 2009–10
- FA Cup: 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12
- Football League Cup: 2006–07
- FA Community Shield: 2009
- UEFA Champions League: 2011–12
Ivory Coast
- Africa Cup of Nations: 2015
Individual
- Dutch Football Talent of the Year: 2005
- CAF Young Player of the Year: 2008
“Has a great career ahead of him”
Rangnick remained as covered as Salzburg, where sports director Christoph Freund refused to comment on the dribbling kicker with a strong shot. For Salzburg coach Marco Rose, it is clear that Haidara has a bright future ahead of him – comparable to Naby Keita, who made his way from Salzburg via Leipzig to Liverpool. “Doudou is an outstanding boy with good humour. An outstanding soccer player and a top character who has fit in very well with us. He has a great career ahead of him,” said the German about Haidara. He came to Liefering from his home country in 2016 and sensationally won the Youth League under Rose. In the pre-season, he belonged to the “bull” squad that advanced to the semi-finals of the Europa League.
A highly acclaimed star at home
Haidara is the “product” of the JMG Academy in Mali’s capital Bamako, one of several locations of the JMG Group of former French team player and coach Jean-Marc Guillou. The now 72-year-old with good connections to his former co-trainer Arsene Wenger runs a total of ten academies in Africa and Asia starting in the 1990s and has already developed African top kickers such as Kolo and Yaya Toure, Salomon Kalou, Gervinho and Didier Zokora. Guillou’s methodology is astonishing: the boys play barefoot and without shin guards, even the goalkeeper is missing. This should improve the defensive behaviour.
Haidara is already a highly acclaimed star in his homeland. His way connects him with his Malian national team and Salzburg colleague and friend Diadie Samassekou. This one could also get lost in Salzburg in the foreseeable future. Besides Manchester City, Liverpool, AS Roma and Borussia Dortmund, Leipzig is not surprisingly considered a possible employer. Ace Lucky Casino has a huge collection of games.
