Unlike his coaches, Haaland's successor likes a laid-back approach

In May 2022, Borussia Dortmund gave 38 million euros for Erling Haaland’s replacement. The sum was almost half the amount they sold the Norwegian for (60 million to Manchester City), but also two times more than the sum Borussia paid for Haaland in 2019 (20 million); in both transfers, Red Bull Salzburg was the team which collected some pretty money, and last season, it was Karim Adeyemi who was the next big thing. Former Bayern Munich youngster, although not a proper number 9 like Haaland was seen as a future star, and one year after the signing, Borussia still believes in him, but…

During the last season, Adeyemi appeared in 32 games in all competitions, scoring nine goals and assisting in six of them, but missed almost ten games due to muscle and foot injuries. And his coaches believe that he has a lot more to give to the club. In fact, for his own good, the coaches are criticizing him in public, even in the player's presence. Borussia’s number 2 man Armin Reutershahn, appeared in a BVB show, "Brinkhoffs Ballgeflüster," and talked about Adeyemi, who was sitting next to him.

“Sometimes I just lack this seriousness. He is sometimes very relaxed during training and then he transmits this relaxation. I wish I could take this more seriously. I think if he gets that, he can become a really big player" said Reutershahn.

A rare case of Bayern neglecting their own talent - Karim Adeyemi

Adeyemi was sitting right next to him, and he listened to the criticism motionless and showed no reaction on stage. Coach Edin Terzic backed his assistant and talked about the young forward a bit more.

"Karim definitely didn't hear that for the first time. I can fully support Armin there. But we also know that there has to be a form of consistency and effectiveness. We tackled that – together with the entire coaching team and also with Karim. These are not secret talks that we are having with him. We're open about that. That's the way he wanted to go" said Terzić.

The Magnificient African Seven embellish Germany's World Cup squad

So, the young German international of Nigerian descent will have to be more focused this season if he wants to be a first-team starter. And ‘Fufu’ - an African dish which he likes and believes it makes him fast, won’t be enough.

BUNDESLIGA - MATCHDAY 2

Friday

RB Leipzig - Stuttgart 5-1 (0-1)

/Henricks 51, Olmo 63, Openda 68, Kampl 74, Simons 76 - Guirassy 35/

Saturday

16:30: (2.45) Koln (3.50) Wolfsburg (3.00)

16:30: (7.50) Bochum (4.60) Dortmund (1.42)

16:30: (3.90) Darmstadt (3.40) Union Berlin (2.00)

16:30: (1.75) Freiburg (3.60) Werder (4.90)

16:30: (3.15) Heidenheim (3.50) Hoffenheim (2.35)

19:30: (3.60) M' gladbach (3.60) Leverkusen (2.00)

Sunday

17:30: (2.55) Mainz (3.50) Eintr.Frankfurt (2.85)

19:30: (1.10) Bayern (11.0) Augsburg (18.0)

***odds are subject to change