Bundesliga

DORTMUND’S 15-year-old sensation Youssoufa Moukoko is so good, that the Bundesliga have changed their age eligibility rules in order to let him play.
Previously players have not been allowed to play in Germany’s top-flight until they are 16-and-a-half.

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Moukoko scored a stunning 34 goals in 20 games for Dortmund’s under-19s this seasonCredit: Getty – Contributor
But such have been the waves caused by Moukoko’s rapid rise, that this has now been lowered to just 16.
A striker by trade, the German teen has left observers flabbergasted by his incredible ability at such a young age.
But his unbelievable progress is nothing new.
At the age of just 12, pre-teen Moukoko was playing for Dortmund’s under-17s and Germany’s under-16s.

He scored an astonishing 90 goals in 56 games at under-17 level, before bagging 34 in 20 this season for the under-19s – despite having started the season as a 14-year-old.
Ahead of turning 16 on November 20, Moukoko has already been training on-and-off with Lucien Favre’s first-team squad since January.
And after the Bundesliga’s new ruling, dubbed the “Moukoko rule”, he could make his first-team bow in the winter – and become Dortmund’s youngster-ever player.
The current record was set by Nuri Sahin back in 2005, when he made his debut at 16 years, 11 months and one day – before going on to play for Real Madrid and Liverpool.

In beating this record, Moukoko will become the latest in a long line of Dortmund kids to have made themselves teenage superstars at Signal Iduna Park.
Impressive Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old under Thomas Tuchel in 2016.
And more recently, Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho and Gio Reyna have made fans sit up and take notice.

14-year-old BVB wonder kid Youssoufa Moukoko’s two goals from Wednesday’s U17 victory…followed by a famous celebration ⭐️💎 pic.twitter.com/2ag5LHCTFa
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) June 7, 2019

The German giants have also spent around £25million on Birmingham City starlet Jude Bellingham, who himself only turned 17 last month.
Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said of Moukoko last November: “He’s an outstanding talent and we want him to learn how to train and play with adults.”
And thanks to the “Moukoko rule”, this November it appears that Zorc can get his wish.

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Moukoko average a goal or an assist every 40 minutes during the 2019-20 seasonCredit: Getty – Contributor

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MARCO REUS has jetted off to Spain for a well-deserved break with his stunning wife.
The Borussia Dortmund star, 31, was pictured with Scarlett Gartmann, 26, on a luxury yacht.

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Marco Reus topped up his tan on the back of the boat

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The loved-up couple enjoyed a cheeky kiss on the yacht
Reus and Gartmann soaked up the sunshine as they laid on the back of the boat.
The loved-up couple, who shared a cheeky kiss on board, were joined by friends in Formentera.
After the supermodel tied the German star’s hair up in a top knot, they went for a dip in the sea.
Scarlett looked incredible as she topped up her tan while wearing a skimpy white bikini.

The pair have been dating since 2015 and they welcomed their baby daughter to the world last year.
Reus is keen to make the most of his break from the Bundesliga season.
Dortmund finished second in the table with 21 wins from 34 matches.

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Scarlett Gartmann tidied up the footballer’s hair

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The stunning Wag has jetted off to Spain with the Dortmund star

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The German star has played for Borussia Dortmund since 2012
Bayern Munich landed the title for the eighth successive time after beating Werder Bremen.

Reus has remained a key figure for the German giants – who he has been with since 2012.
He scored 11 goals and made five assists in 19 league appearances this term.

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Marco Reus’ wife Scarlett Gartmann is a model from Germany

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Marco Reus sported a pair of sunglasses and black swimming trunks

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BAYERN MUNICH chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has fumed at France Football’s decision not to award a 2020 Ballon d’Or.
The Bundesliga champions’ prolific striker Robert Lewandowski had been the bookies favourite to land the prestigious individual award for the first time.

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Robert Lewandowski bagged 51 goals in 43 games this seasonCredit: AP:Associated Press

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Bayern chairman and two-time winner Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was unimpressed with the decisionCredit: AP:Associated Press
But in order to “avoid overly convoluted calculations”, France Football decided to axe the award for the first time in its 56-year history.
On the decision, Rummenigge, himself a two-time Ballon d’Or winner in 1980 and 1981, said: “I believe Robert Lewandowski is playing a fantastic season and he performed maybe the best season in his career.
“Unfortunately France Football cancelled the Ballon d’Or which we are not very happy [with] and in the end it’s not very fair, not just Bayern but also for Robert Lewandowski who might have won.
“I believe it’s very important that in a season that, except the French league, [the other leagues] performed through to the end of the season, it has to be possible to give the Ballon d’Or to the best footballer in the world.

“And of course, I believe in those circumstances Robert would have a good chance to win it in the first time in his career.”
Lionel Messi, winner in 2019, and Cristiano Ronaldo have hoarded the award in recent seasons – between them winning it in 11 of the last 12 years.
But having netted an astonishing 51 goals in 43 games for Bayern this season, Lewandowski could have had a good chance of breaking that duopoly this time around – particularly with the Champions League rolling back around next month.
‘THE LEAST BAD OPTION’
France Football chief Pascal Farre, however, insists that the decision was the fairest in protecting the integrity of the award.

He said: “There will be no edition in 2020 because it turns out, after thoughtful consideration, that all of the conditions are not met.
“We believe that such a singular year cannot – and should not – be treated as an ordinary one.
“Two months [January and February] out of the 11 generally required to form an opinion and decide who should lift the trophies represent far too little to gauge and judge.
“The other games were played – or will be played – in unordinary conditions, behind closed doors, with five replacements, the Champions League Final Eight played as single games.

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Lewandowski had been 3/1 favourite BEFORE the award was axed

“Finally, all the award seekers will not be in the same boat and some have seen the season cut short.
“Therefore, how can we establish a fair comparison?
“To avoid overly convoluted calculations and projections, we chose the least bad of the options.”

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LEON GORETZKA showed the hard work never stops – even after you’ve just won the Bundesliga.
The Bayern Munich star continued to show off the results of his stunning body transformation while the German kings wait for the Champions League to come back.

It was more than a month ago that Bayern were crowned German champions for an eighth straight year.
And despite beating Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge in their last-16 first-leg clash, Bayern and Goretzka in particular are refusing to take it easy.
The Germany midfielder showed off his chiselled torso to his 1.1million Instagram followers.
Goretzka, 25, stunned fans with his physical change during lockdown.

He recently revealed it was all part of a carefully put-together plan designed to increase his size and mass.

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The Germany midfielder has continued to work hard even in this time off

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Goretzka has been working hard in the gym and the gains are there for all to seeCredit: AFP or licensors

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Goretzka is now the muscular midfielder bossing the middle of the parkCredit: EPA

He told Bild: “For me, lockdown was both a crisis and an opportunity.
“A crisis because you miss football and daily training with the team, but also a chance to gain muscle mass in co-ordination with the physiotherapist.
“In crucial games and moments, it is important to be physically and mentally fit.

“The weight helps me in tackles, makes me a bit more agile and robust.
“Not only on the ground in a one-on-one, but also in the air.”
Bayern will welcome Frank Lampard’s side to the Allianz on August 8 with the tie seemingly sewed up after a 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
But Goretzka said he and his team-mates – who have not played since the July 4 DFB Cup final victory over Bayer Leverkusen – are taking nothing for granted ahead of the clash.
He said: “Chelsea have the advantage in that they are travelling to Munich just after the season, while we want to refind our rhythm.

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Goretzka, here next to keeper Manuel Neuer, has clearly filled out from a few months agoCredit: AFP or licensors

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All of the Bayern stars, including Robert Lewandowski, are continuing to work hard

“We’ll do everything to make sure Chelsea won’t be successful again in Munich.
“It’s clear to every one of us that the competition and our path to the final is extremely challenging.
“But we’ve already had a great season, winning the league and cup. Now our focus is on Chelsea and the Champions League.”

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MARIO GOTZE’S sad end to his Borussia Dortmund career just got that bit worse.
The World Cup winner beat Arsenal target Philippe Coutinho in a brutal players’ poll to find the Bundesliga’s biggest “disappointment”.

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Mario Gotze faces an undignified exit at Borussia Dortmund after rejecting a pay cut and topping a player poll for biggest ‘disappointment’Credit: PA

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Philippe Coutinho was fifth on the list of flops, as voted for by Bundesliga stars, but is again being linked with ArsenalCredit: PA:Press Association
Dortmund are offloading Gotze as his contract ends this summer following a dramatic slump in form since his return from rivals Bayern Munich four years ago.
And having won three Bundesliga crowns, the 28-year-old has now finished off with a domestic nomination he certainly did not want.
German top-flight players put Gotze way ahead of his rivals on 30 per cent in their list of flops.
Bayern keeper Alex Nuebel was next on 11.5 per cent, ahead of Botafogo’s ex-Hertha Berlin and Chelsea wideman Salomon Kalou, Schalke frontman Guido Burgstaller and Barcelona’s Bayern loanee Coutinho, with 3.7 per cent.

Gotze was a key man when Germany won the ultimate prize in Brazil six years ago, scoring the extra-time winner in the final against Argentina.

But his form faltered and in 2016 he was diagnosed with a muscular disorder called myopathy.
Nonetheless, even Arsenal have been mentioned in the past as potential Premier League suitors for the 63-cap star.
And with Barca reportedly interested in swapping Coutinho for outcast Gunners’ midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, Gotze will surely be mentioned in Prem circles again if his wage demands are realistic.

The Bundesliga poll did, though, offer encouraging news for Chelsea over new signing Timo Werner and Manchester United for pursuing England attacker Jadon Sancho.

Although Robert Lewandowski dominated the “best outfield player” category on 42.6 per cent, Sancho was second on 14.1 per cent and Werner fifth on 2.5 per cent.
The most emphatic win came in the world’s “best trainer” section, where Liverpool’s title-winning boss Jurgen Klopp scored 74.8 per cent, ahead of second-placed Manchester City chief Pep Guardiola on 13 per cent.
And there was also a landslide success for the Prem itself, rated by 74.4 per cent as the word’s top league, compared to a vote of 17.8 per cent for the Bundesliga.

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