“It Was The Right Decision” – Mertesacker Thrilled With Reiss Nelson’s Loan Move

By The Editor
on 11th December 2018

Academy director Per Mertesacker talks up Reiss Nelson’s loan move to Hoffenheim…

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Head of the academy Per Mertesacker has talked up Reiss Nelson’s current loan spell at Hoffenheim and believes that it proves the loan system can still work in modern football, Arsenal Player reports.

Fresh from signing a new, long-term contract in August, Nelson was given permission to seek regular first-team football elsewhere and decided to try his hand in another league.

The idea was completely foreign to Nelson given his close friendship with Jadon Sancho, a player who rejected the chance to stay at Manchester City and is now lightning up European football with Borussia Dortmund.

Nelson has enjoyed similar joys in Germany’s top division, scoring seven league goals already despite not being an automatic starter under Julian Nagelsmann.

The young coach, who will take over at RB Leipzig next season, was one of the names thrown into the hat to replace Arsene Wenger last summer.

For Mertesacker, Nagelsmann’s presence coupled with the similarities between the Bundesliga and the Premier League, sending Nelson to Hoffenheim was the obvious choice.

“It was the best decision for him to go there,” the German said.

“When you compare the Bundesliga to the Premier League, there are similarities but there are differences.

“At the moment the Bundesliga suits him, and he went to a club where they are used to bringing up young players, educating young players and giving young players a chance in their first team. He has a young coach who will educate him and give him an insight.”

Many have been critical of the loan system in recent years and accused clubs of hoarding talent instead of giving them the opportunity to play.

However, despite our impeccable record of giving young talent a chance, Mertesacker has made it clear that the Bundesliga remains an interesting market to develop existing talent.

“So the loan system should work brilliantly for us. Some Bundesliga clubs are very interesting for us and the way he could make an impact at Hoffenheim was by starting on the bench but then scoring immediately.”