The Brazilian said that the German teams are risking the sustainability of the youth academies in France while hunting young players
Borussia Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc reacted to Paris Saint-Germain’s counterpart Leonardo, who said Bundesliga teams are breaking into Ligue 1 clubs for young talent.
Parisians saw products from the Academy Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig) and Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen) leave Parc des Princes last summer for the German top flight, while Bayern Munich attempted Tanguy Kouassi across the border after failed to agree new conditions with the Champions League neighborhood -finalists.
But PSG isn’t the only club that has suffered losses for the big German teams, with Leonardo having hit in an interview with The Parisian.
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“German clubs, particularly Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund, are increasingly dragging young players from France. They are a danger for youth academies in France and this is a big deal, “he complained.
“They call parents, friends, family members or the player himself. At 15 or 16, young talents turn their heads. Perhaps the rules should have changed to protect French clubs. “
Zorc, whose team counts 21-year-old Dan-Axel Zagadou, who left PSG’s reserve ranks to sign BVB in 2017, among their ranks, says that the 1994 World Cup winner got it all wrong.
“It’s usually the opposite of what you don’t describe it. We are actively contacted by French families and agents because they often see greater opportunities for first team football and greater potential for young talent development, “he said.
In the meantime, Markus Kroesche, sporting director of RB Leipzig, has offered a more discerning vision.
“France is the reigning world champion and, like Germany, it is a great football nation. It would therefore be negligent not to keep an eye on the market, “he said.
Relations have been close between Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain since a Champions League match between the teams in the spring.
After winning the first leg in Germany, Dortmund was made fun of for the Ligue 1 club, which responded on the pitch claiming a 2-0 success at Parc des Princes, sending it to the quarterfinals of the competition.
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