Should Ralf Rangnick on Sunday in CHECK24 double pass on SPORT1 when asked about Tanguy-Austin Nianzou Kouassi, his eyes should light up.
The 62-year-old, who is currently open to a new challenge after his canceled commitment at AC Milan, is a big fan of the Bayern newcomer.
And Nianzou, who, unlike Alexander Nübel and Leroy Sané, has not been in the focus at Bayern so far, could soon become a hot topic.
The CHECK24 one-two with Ralf Rangnick on Sunday from 11 a.m. on TV on SPORT1
Rangnick ennobles Nianzou
Because the defender, who had moved from Paris Saint-Germain to the Isar in the summer and thus caused trouble for Thomas Tuchel, completed parts of the team training for the first time since his thigh injury in September.
“He’s one of the greatest defensive talents I’ve ever seen,” said Rangnick at the end of September Sky about Nianzou and predicted: “He will be a regular player in a year or two at the latest.”
The former sports director and trainer of RB Leipzig, who most recently worked as Head of Sport and Development Soccer at Red Bull, was in Leipzig himself “two years on the player”.
Bavaria has high hopes for Nianzou
In Munich, too, the French are very fond of the game – after all, Hasan Salihamidzic called him “one of the best players in Europe in 2002” when he was introduced.
For the sports director it is clear “that he will have a great career with us and that he will be an absolute asset”.
Nianzou sustained a complicated injury to the anterior thigh muscles when he shot on goal during training for the French U20 national team in early September.
Bayern want to carefully build the 18-year-old for the second half of the season, in which he is fully expected. Nianzou was not reported for the Champions League group stage.
Because of Kimmich: Nianzou asked soon?
Due to Joshua Kimmich’s injury, Nianzou, who has a contract until 2024, could be in demand earlier.
Because Bayern’s leader is out for weeks after an operation on the right lateral meniscus, which was necessary after his unfortunate action against Erling Haaland in the top game against BVB.
“He is currently on a really good path, he trains very hard and speaks German quite well,” said coach Hansi Flick recently about Nianzou.
The trained central defender can be used flexibly on the defensive. “I played in front of defense last year but I can adapt,” said Nianzou when he introduced him.
So he could get minutes in defensive midfield, but if David Alaba were to be shifted to six, he could also be used in the back four.
Regular Nianzou? No dreaming
Nianzou, who has the 98 world champion Lilian Thuram – father of Gladbach professional Marcus Thuram – as a role model, is considered to be extremely strong at the ball, and he is certified as having good technique and opening of the game.
With the unexplained future of Alaba and Jérôme Boateng, even Rangnick’s prediction of the regular place could not be a dream, although the road to the first competitive game for Nianzou is still a long one.
The next steps towards a comeback will certainly not only please his admirers.
