Bayern Munich have raided another Bundesliga club for one of their top talents – but this time, the deal has caused some controversy.
That is because of the player’s age, coupled with the amount of money involved. The Bavarian giants have signed 13-year-old starlet Mike Wisdom from Borussia Mönchengladbach for the staggering fee of over €300,000.
Bayern Munich get new academy talent
Wisdom joins Bayern Munich’s youth setup after the club reportedly scouted him for over 18 months.
The majority of the €300k fee will go towards a signing-on bonus for the young talent. Ghanaian news outlet Sports World Ghana, which exclusively broke the news of the signing, claim that Wisdom will also get a free scholarship as part of the deal. In addition, the 13-year-old’s parents received a large chunk of the money for relocation.
However, Bayern only had to pay their rivals €20,000.
Mike Wisdom will play in Bayern’s under-15 team to continue his path to professional football. He chose the Bundesliga leaders despite reportedly gaining interest from Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund.
Scouts hold Wisdom in high regard for his play as a striker. His two-footed ability and rapid speed makes him a dangerous force in attack. In addition, he has impressed with his poise in front of goal.
Wisdom was born in Germany, however, can represent Ghana and Nigeria at international level. The battle to secure his international allegiance, perhaps unsurprisingly, has not yet begun.
Losing out on Wisdom hurt Mönchengladbach. The club’s sporting director, Roland Virkus, was very unimpressed by the move to say the least.
Mönchengladbach angered by loss of Wisdom
Speaking to the Rheinische Post, Virkus blasted the decision by Bayern to fork out such a fee for a youngster.
He said (as per Sky Sport DE): “Such deals are anything but beneficial for German youth football. I think it’s tasteless!
“We offered him a place at boarding school to minimise travel times.”
Wisdom’s move is a blow for a Mönchengladbach academy that prides itself on developing talent to its first team.
The club’s own website explains their academy process and their philosophy. They say: “The promotion of youngsters into the first team is an important part of Borussia’s philosophy, as it always will be.”
Mönchengladbach’s roll call of academy graduates is certainly impressive. Among those that have played in the German side’s youth ranks is Ballon D’Or winner Lotthar Matthaus.
Other former academy players include Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Dortmund midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud, and former Tottenham midfielder Lewis Holtby.
Featured Image Credit: Getty
