Energie Cottbus in the dispute over talent Linus Güther – Who will win?

Energie Cottbus in the dispute over talent Linus Güther – Who will win?

Youth football in Germany is in turmoil! A particularly exciting talent, Linus Güther, is causing a stir. The only 15-year-old is moving from Energie Cottbus's youth team to Union Berlin, and while the news causes great joy among the “Irons”, there are heated discussions between the two clubs.

Linus Güther, an attacking midfielder who also plays on the wings and in attack, is considered one of the most promising talents in German football. He played in Energie Cottbus' U17 team until the summer of 2023, where he scored two goals in ten games in the DFB youth league. “A talented boy who has already played in the German U15 national team,” according to experts. His skills have already attracted international attention when he scored goals against the Netherlands and Belgium and helped his teammates contribute to his goals. According to FC Union Berlin, the transfer is a clear indicator of the growing importance of the club's youth academy.

Legal disputes

But not everyone involved is happy about the development. Energie Cottbus still sees a valid contract with Güther and plans to take legal action against the transfer. The president of the club, Lemke, emphasizes that Güther's parents have signed the contract, which will be valid until 2028. However, this contract was not signed by Güther himself and does not have a date of issue, which raises doubts about its validity. Sports lawyer Martin Stopper states that, according to the DFB and FIFA, funding agreements can have a maximum term of three years. This raises questions as Güther's contract may extend beyond this deadline. Of course, an unclear legal situation also arises because it remains unclear how a labor court would decide in the event of civil law proceedings.

The parents of the young talent are on Union Berlin's side and do not want to recognize the existing contract with Cottbus. “There is something in the air that raises a lot of questions,” is an assessment from those close to the transfer.

The importance of talent and reform

In the current discussion about Güther, the topic of talent promotion in German football is also addressed. The relative age effect, a phenomenon in which children born at the end of the year often get fewer opportunities in youth teams, could lead to talented players being overlooked. According to a study by Mario Mechtel, clubs could significantly increase their market values ​​if they addressed this problem. The DFB has already initiated reforms to improve talent development, including through a new training and playing philosophy for children's football and the introduction of more sports lessons in schools. “These are steps in the right direction,” said Hannes Wolf, DFB director of youth and training.

Linus Güther certainly has the potential to become a great player. His decision to move to Union Berlin could not only advance his own career, but also shed light on the challenges and opportunities for today's young talent in German football. It will be interesting to see how this situation will develop further.

Sources:
rbb24
FC Union Berlin
South German newspaper