Bundesliga: Christopher Nkunku voted best player in the championship

A consecration.

Christopher Nkunku was named the Bundesliga's best player on Monday.

A trophy that rewards the striker's totally crazy season with Red Bull Leipzig, qualified for the Champions League next season.

Author of 20 goals (4th in the scoring charts) and 13 assists (2nd behind Thomas Müller) in 34 league matches, the Frenchman has largely contributed to giving his club 4th place.

To discover

• Bundesliga fixtures and results

• Bundesliga standings

14 years after Franck Ribéry, distinguished with Bayern Munich at the end of an exceptional season, Christopher Nkunku succeeds Robert Lewandowski, winner in 2020 and 2021. The Pole from Bayern Munich, top scorer with 35 league goals, cedes this distinction to the former player of Paris SG who has changed status in recent months, going from that of excellent club player to star of the championship.

Sold 13 million euros by PSG three years ago

When he settled in Germany from the French capital in 2019 for 13 million euros (it would be worth 65 today according to the specialized site Transfermarkt), Nkunku was still only a hope in lack of playing time with the champions of France.

The native of Lagny-sur-Marne immediately seized his chance with Red Bull Leipzig, settling in the starting lineup.

Author of two full seasons (5 goals and 13 assists in 2019-20 then 6 goals and 6 assists in 2020-21), the former Parisian titi has really burst onto the screen in recent months.

It is therefore not a surprise that Didier Deschamps called him up for the Blues for the first time last March.

The coach was able to appreciate the versatility of Kylian Mbappé's friend (capable of playing in midfield, on the sides of the attack and even in the axis) and his transformation in all areas of the game since he has been in Germany: more realistic in front of goal, physically impressive and much more involved in the collective of his team.

No question of leaving Leipzig this summer

This new status will only strengthen the clubs' interest in the young 24-year-old international, closely followed by Bayern Munich, even if the door seems to be closed for the moment.

“

,” said Leipzig executive director Oliver Mintzlaff recently. .

Many courtiers make eyes at the twirling offensive player.

Among them, we find Paris SG which, according to

, has seriously considered bringing back its former young shoot.

But Leonardo, the current sports director, would not be in favor of this solution which risks highlighting one of the flaws in his sports policy.