Thierno Ballo will join the second team of the Champions League winner until the end of the season. Rapd has seven U-21 team players.
Werner Gregoritsch could feel like half a rapid coach. From now on, the U-21 team boss is training seven Rapidlers in the team camp in Bad Schallerbach. That is a record for the Hütteldorfer.
How did it come about? Goalkeeper Hedl, central defender Greiml, and full-backs Auer and Sulzbacher were called up for the qualifying games in Norway (on Friday) and against Azerbaijan (September 7th). The sixth shoemaker was nominated again.
Two entries, no exit
On Monday evening Rapid Emanuel Aiwu bought 750,000 euros, the Admira defender cleaned up in front of the back three under Gregoritsch.
Former opponent, future teammate: Emanuel Aiwu (right) against Rapids Kara
And on Tuesday afternoon, U-21 team player No. 7 was announced as the Greens' last commitment: Thierno Ballo will come on loan from Chelsea until the end of the season.
“I think we all did a great job together in this transfer time – all in all it was great,” says sports director Zoran Barisic to the KURIER. “With Aiwu and Ballo we get even more energy and talent.”
The nimble offensive player who grew up in Linz is considered one of the greatest ÖFB talents. From the U-15 away, the right foot was used in all selections. The strong record in the U-21s: four games, three goals.
Parents from Africa
The mother comes from Guinea, the father from Ivory Coast. The full name is Thierno Mamadou Lamarana Ballo. After stints in the offspring of Leverkusen and Viktoria Köln, Ballo was able to convince in Chelsea's second team, some training sessions with the pros of the Champions League winner have already ended.
Transfer with lead time
From now on, the 19-year-old should prove himself in professional football. Rapid coach Didi Kühbauer speculated with Ballo at the beginning of the transfer period. Since Chelsea did not want to give a purchase option, the Hütteldorfer looked elsewhere.
Transfer plans with legionnaires came to nothing and Sascha Horvath decided at the last second for the LASK. So Ballo slipped back to number one on the shortlist.
The medical check was successfully completed on Tuesday. After the presentation by Rapid, the 1.72 meter tall technician prepares again for the tasks with the U-21.
Thierno Ballo prefers to play the central playmaker, but could also be used as a dribbling wing, similar to Horvath.
All sales blocked
Rapid's transfer program is now complete. Sports director Zoran Barisic succeeded in keeping the squad together as requested by Kühbauer.
The most popular was Ercan Kara, and there were also offers for Max Ullmann, Taxi Fountas and Leo Greiml.
But the transfer fees demanded by the Hütteldorfer were never put on the table.
Poker is also officially over on Tuesday midnight.
