AThere are also moments like this in Nelson Weiper’s career, which is just beginning: On Friday, in the German U-18 national team’s game against France, the young professional from FSV Mainz 05 missed a penalty in the third minute of added time. The DFB team lost 3:4. Small consolation: The first of two games in Clairefontaine was about nothing, it was just a friendly.
Third minute of stoppage time – there was something: At the end of February, the striker had scored his first goal in the Bundesliga at this point, heaving a header under the bar to win Gladbach 4-0. The fans then called him to the fence; Weiper was allowed to sing the “Humba” during his second professional appearance. The talent, who was still in his first year as a youth, had only been substituted on eight minutes before the goal, but didn’t need any warm-up time to find his way into the game.
Weiper was there immediately, as he was in the much more competitive, heated games against TSG Hoffenheim – when he twice duped experienced defender Kevin Vogt, forced him to commit a foul that was punished with a yellow card and missed goalkeeper Oliver Baumann by just a fingertip length – and the Sc freiburg. At 1:1, his inclusion, combined with the change to a 4-3-3, made a significant contribution to reviving the slacking Mainz offensive game. Once again, thanks to his strong ball acceptance, he put himself in a good final position; the fact that he didn’t put the ball into the goal from six meters away but into Mark Flekken’s arms was probably also due to the grip of an opponent.
Farther than Jonathan Burkardt at the same age
Bo Svensson later explained why he hadn’t brought the young man earlier (“Then we wouldn’t have had an option to change”), but admitted: “Maybe I should have done it anyway.” If only because of Weiper’s ability, at the moment, to be at operating temperature when it steps onto the lawn. Adolescent insouciance? The coach shook his head. “Quality,” he said.
It will only become clear in the coming one or two seasons, but: Weiper, who played at the Rheinhessen youth training center when he was seven and just turned 18, is probably the greatest offensive talent that the 05ers have produced in almost a decade and a half. Since André Schürrle, the later world champion and assisting Mario Götze in the final victory against Argentina.
In terms of his physical condition, Weiper is also ahead of Jonathan Burkardt at the same age. The top scorer of the previous season with eleven goals, who was hampered in the current round by various injuries and illnesses and has been out since the winter break, played four games with the professionals in his second U-19 year, and eight a season later. In 2020/21 he had his breakthrough with 29 Bundesliga appearances.
While the speed dribbler first had to get used to the toughness of the men before his qualities came into their own, Weiper already has a remarkable body. 1.92 meters tall, weighs 82 kilos, robust and quick to start. He scored 17 goals in 13 appearances in the A-Junior Bundesliga and 13 goals in 15 games for the U-17 national team. Mainz sports director Martin Schmidt predicts a great future for him: “Nelson is a type of player that Germany is waiting for.”
The award of the Fritz Walter Gold Medal as the most valuable U-17 player of the year in November underscores this. His predecessors included Florian Wirtz, Karim Adeyemi and Kai Havertz.
