BVB: Loser of the fairy tale Moukoko – change of perspective for Reinier and Morey

85 minutes had been played when he was suddenly ready on the sidelines with a big smile on his face. 16-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko replaced 20-year-old Erling Haaland with a score of 5: 2 at the Berlin Olympic Stadium against Hertha BSC. What a time to be alive!

Moukoko’s five minutes in Berlin will not be the Cameroonian striker’s last debut in what will hopefully be a long career. When the BVB receives Club Bruges on Tuesday in their Signal Iduna Park, the next special moment may be waiting.

After the Bundesliga, Moukoko will also be able to play in the Champions League, probably the most prestigious competition in club football. Up to 24 hours before kick-off, i.e. Monday at 9pm, BVB has the opportunity to publish their super talent via the so-called B-list.

This means that Moukoko will have the chance to become the youngest player in the history of this competition on Tuesday evening (from 21:00 in the live ticker on Eurosport.de), in addition to his home game and Premier League debut. So far, Celestine Babayaro holds the record. On 23 November 1994, almost exactly 26 years ago, the Nigerian left-back made his debut with RSC Anderlecht in a 1-1 draw against Steaua Bucharest at the age of 16, two months and 25 days. Moukoko would also be enough to play in the last match of the group on 8 December in St. Petersburg to oust the Nigerian.

“We are waiting for training. We have many opportunities in attack,” said coach Lucien Favre, leaving the youngster open on Tuesday against Bruges at a press conference on Monday.

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In addition to the record lists in various competitions, the inexorable rise of the Moukoko also changes the internal hierarchy. A Bundesliga squad of the day consists of 20 players (eleven on the field, nine on the bench) since the start of the 2019/20 season (previously 18 players). Insufficient space for all players at the BVB.

In Berlin, the young Spaniard Mateu Morey and Real Loan Reinier were the big losers who had to take their seats in the stands. Especially for the 18-year-old Brazilian, who by the way is also in direct competition with Moukoko in terms of position, the latest developments risk being a slap in the face.

In any case, the striker, for whom Real Madrid paid around € 30 million to Brazilian first division club Flamengo in January 2020, is still not doing well in Dortmund. Ridiculous 39 minutes in the Bundesliga and 17 in the Champions League: the frustration level for the U23 Seleção should be high.

Because by the way, he tested positive for the coronavirus after his return from the national team and will now have to go to quarantine at home.

The 18-year-old is on loan from Real Madrid to BVB until summer 2022. The Spaniards naturally hoped that the youngster would play at BVB and, like so many other talents before him, would take the next step.

Instead, Reinier spends most of his time on the bench or in the stands, and has so far managed only a measly 105 minutes in all competitions. According to a report by the Spanish “AS”, Real are so dissatisfied with the loan trend that they plan to bring Reinier back to Madrid this winter.

Another loser is Morey, who, like last year, made a very good impression in the summer preparation, then became the protagonist of the season – like last year – injured and currently unable to recover.

As a right-wing man, the 20-year-old could actually play the role of Achraf Hakimi, who migrated to Inter. Unlike Thomas Meunier, who has trouble shining in the 3-4-3 system as a player on the track on the right side, he would be a young and very talented alternative.

However, it is currently excluded for the time being. In the Bundesliga he was only used for ten minutes in the derby against FC Schalke, in the Champions League he was allowed on the pitch in Bruges for six minutes. Against Berlin he was completely absent from the squad.

The hype surrounding Moukoko shouldn’t make Morey’s situation any easier.

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