Speaking in Monday’s magazine edition of Kicker, former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Nuri Şahin believes Youssoufa Moukoko is too good to be playing for BVB’s youth team.
The 15-year-old has scored 10 goals in three U19 Bundesliga West games this season with a further hat-trick in the DFB Pokal youth fixture and is eligible to play for Borussia Dortmund’s first team when he turns 16 on 20th November.
“It makes me happy that it’s one of our players,” said Şahin. “When the new rule came out, I quickly realised that my record will be broken soon. Youssoufa must now take the next step, the U19s is too easy for him.”
The Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) reached a decision in April to lower the minimum age requirement to play in the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga from 17 to 16. This means that Moukoko would be eligible to play for BVB from November 20.
Şahin has praised the support around the 15-year-old attacker, who has trained alongside Erling Braut Haaland & Co: “It’s important to have people around you who will support you and make you aware that negative headlines are part of it.”
