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Sponsor Gerardo Seoane (2nd from left)! Here, the Borussia coach gives instructions to midfield talents Rocco Reitz (left) and Oscar Fraulo (2nd from right) during a training session on July 23, 2023.
Copyright: IMAGO/fohlenfoto
He’s not just the man of the hour on the Lower Rhine!
In the current Bundesliga season, several players are making headlines every week with their best performances. Harry Kane (30) and Serhou Guirassy (27) have certainly stood out so far.
Borussia Mönchengladbach celebrates Rocco Reitz’s development
At Borussia Mönchengladbach there is also a player whose story makes football fans’ hearts beat faster – but not because of an XXL goal tally.
Rocco Reitz (21) is currently proving how a player who has had a difficult path in recent seasons can suddenly become a shooting star and not just the focus of attention on the Lower Rhine.
The 21-year-old has received high praise from observers across the country; his first Bundesliga goal in the 4-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg last Friday (10 November 2023) was just another highlight.
Now the Duisburg native faces the next milestone! He was called up to the DFB under-21 squad in October, but ended up not being part of the squad on match day.
That’s likely to change during this international break: firstly, this time he was already in the original squad – another step forward. Of course, Reitz is now looking forward to his debut and thus his first game in a DFB shirt since the U16s.
As if Reitz wasn’t already in the spotlight at the moment, there was plenty of praise from U21 national coach Antonio di Salvo (44) on Monday (13 November).
The former Bundesliga striker warmly promotes his protégé and the development he has behind him. “Rocco was there for the first time and fit in very well, even though he wasn’t in the squad. His development is progressing, since then he has started all the club’s matches and has shown very good performances,” di Salvo said at a press conference at the start of the DFB campaign.
The 44-year-old continued: “I am impressed by a player who always wants to have the ball, who is not afraid of being played into difficult situations and who also rewarded himself with his first Bundesliga goal. He also did it in a really cool and ripped way.”
Reitz’s hype is slowly spreading. This is obviously a great sign for everyone involved in the Lower Rhine in terms of their work. Reitz has worked hard over the last two or three years to improve his physical performance – it is clearly evident week after week.
Gerardo Seoane (45) and Roland Virkus (56) gave him the confidence he needed. But when a DFB official publicly praises a talent like this, it causes a stir both nationally and internationally.
There is no sign that Reitz is looking for offers from other clubs. After all, he has been a member of Borussia since birth, is a former season ticket holder and, by current professional standards, probably identifies with the club as closely as possible.
For Reitz, the focus now will be on being able to shine on the field not only under the command of Seoane, but also under the command of his “new” coach di Salvo. On Friday (17 November, at 18:00), the U21s will face Estonia and then Poland, on 21 November (18:00).
