Like Football Manager 2015 on Facebook
Peter Neururer, a specialist who trained Goretzka in 2013 in Bochum, said that he never saw eighteen-year-old even close to his level, and that Leon is "talent of the century."
This 19-year-old played in 24 games in the Bundesliga for Schalke. He has managed to score four goals, but what sets him apart from most other talents is his imposing height and strength, and the ability to play in any position in midfield, and back in Germany he is already compared with the legendary Michael Ballack.
Reports in Germany suggest that the young footballer had to refuse agents who we're regularly approaching him in the parking lot after training. Bayern Munich confirmed their interest, and Dortmund also wanted to sing young midfielder. However, Goretzka had chosen Schalke as he didn't want to leave the school in his hometown. Miners had done an excellent job and snatched one of the biggest German wonderkids for "only" 2.8 million euros.
Move to the elite class was no problem for him, and the number of 24 appearances in last season and 4 goals prove this statement. He managed to shot at the opposition goal every 36 minutes on average!
His natural position is as a central midfielder - for which he has best attributes, but the young player from Bochum played on the left wing for the larger part of the season. Although 189 centimetres tall, Goretzka has the speed and technique to play on the wing.
His right foot is the stronger one, so he likes to cut inside from the left wing and have a crack at goal.
Due to his height and strength, you get a filling that he could play best as a central defender, but Leon is more offensively orientated, which does not mean that he is bad in the defensive part. On the contrary, opponents who have a ball at their feet are likely to have the feeling of being around a humming 'wasp', wasp that is 189 centimetres tall and is very aggressive when trying to win the ball.
Despite his aggressiveness, Goretzka only received one yellow card in the Bundesliga last season.
In addition to the above mentioned qualities, Leon knows how to pass the ball, whether on a short or long distance. All of his qualities we're best seen in a derby match against Leverkusen, when he first stole the ball from Lars Bender, took the ball forward, dribbled past opposing defenders and lobed the keeper for a great solo effort.
Although most compare him to Ballack, Goretzka said that his football idol is Real Madrid's midfielder Toni Kross.
There is no doubt that Leon will be on many shortlist in Football Manager 2015, only problem is that he's got a contract with Schalke that expires in 2018.
