Augsburg’s man for 1-0: Mergim Berisha before the DFB debut

Even before the World Cup in Qatar, Stefan Reuter recommended calling up FCA striker Mergim Berisha. Now Hansi Flick actually nominated the 24-year-old. And Reuter announced that he wanted to take the option to buy the loan from Fenerbahce.

When national coach Hansi Flick was looking almost desperately for a replacement for the injured Timo Werner in November 2022, FC Augsburg brought a man into play who hardly anyone had on their list: Mergim Berisha. “Mergim is really good at football, extremely dangerous and has shown from day one that he can hold his own against top central defenders,” said Stefan Reuter, FCA’s sporting director.

Mergim Berisha – Augsburg’s can opener

Flick did not listen to the recommendations from Augsburg, relied on Niclas Füllkrug as a striker – and was eliminated in the preliminary round of the World Cup. Whether Berisha could have prevented the failure of the DFB-Elf in Qatar is of course more than questionable. The Flick-Elf’s problem lay more in defense than where Berisha has shown his specialties since arriving in the Bundesliga.

The 24-year-old striker could easily be used in any canteen kitchen: he proved in the FC Augsburg jersey that he is an extremely talented can opener. Berisha has scored eight goals for his club this season, six times it was 1-0, once 1-1, three times his 1-0 meant the final score – including the win against FC Bayern in September.

Reuter: “In any case, we intend to exercise the purchase option”

So it’s no wonder that FC Augsburg are aware of the importance of their centre-forward. Born in Berchtesgaden, who began his career in the FC Red Bull Salzburg squad and after several loans ended up at Fenerbahce Istanbul, he is set to join the Swabians in the long term. Berisha is currently only on loan from Turkey, but FC Augsburg has a purchase option, which Reuter says is very likely to be used.

“In any case, we intend to pull the purchase option before the deadline expires. We still have a little time. But something extraordinary would have to happen so that we don’t pull it,” said Reuter on the Blickpunkt Sport program. According to BR information, this should be four million euros – for a German national player that would be a bargain.

‘Very intelligent’ – Berisha accounts for a third of FCA’s goals

But FC Augsburg certainly has its part in the positive development of the striker. “The environment is right, the coach is right. In Enrico Maaßen we have found a coach who can develop players,” said Reuter and raved about Berisha’s qualities: “Mergim has scored so many important goals this season. He is very intelligent and can give assists.” In addition to his eight goals, he has four assists and was directly involved in more than a third of FCA’s goals this season.

And Antonio Di Salvo, coach of the U21 national team, raves about Berisha: “It’s a player who works very well with his back to goal, who can score goals with the right and left, shoots good free-kicks,” said Di Salvo and added: “I think he’s a good alternative for Hansi.” Berisha, who was a regular when the German U21s won the European Championship, was able to recommend himself to the DFB team just under four months after the national team lost the World Cup – and, like the other five newcomers to the national team, can do well Calculate the chances of a debut.

Reuter with further recommendations for Flick

“That’s our plan. We have to wait and see what the training impressions are like. We’re curious to see what we’ll see,” said Flick at a press conference in Frankfurt. In Augsburg, of course, everyone is happy about the nomination: “Finally an Augsburg player in the senior national team again,” said Reuter, and he had a few more recommendations up his sleeve: Niklas Dorsch, Arne Maier and Felix Uduokhai.

But now the time has come for Mergim Berisha. In the friendlies against Peru (Saturday, March 25, 8:45 p.m.) and Belgium (Tuesday, March 28, 8:45 p.m.) he is now hoping to actually be able to celebrate his debut for the national team. Perhaps the DFB selection is struggling against one of the two teams and Hansi Flick remembers that he has a specialized can opener in the squad.

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Source: Focus Sport
03/19/2023 – 9:45 p.m