As of: March 27, 2024, 7:03 p.m
By: Philipp Kessler, Manuel Bonke
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The DFB could once again be left behind with a child prodigy.
Cavan Sullivan is the greatest super talent in the USA.
The 14-year-old could play for Germany.
Frankfurt – Nuremberg's high flyers Can Uzun and Kenan Yildiz from Juventus Turin decided for Turkey and against the German Football Association.
The association only really got serious about Bayern six Aleksandar Pavlovic when the Serbs made their courtship public and lured him with appearances in the senior national team.
Now Germany is threatening to miss out on the next super talent.
Next super talent gone?
DFB only has outsider chances with Wunderkind
Cavan Sullivan is the American prodigy.
The 14-year-old, born on September 28, 2009, most recently completed pre-season training with the second team of MLS club Philadelphia Union.
“Cavan is a fantastic young talent,” said coach Marlon LeBlanc.
“All this hype around him doesn’t go to his head.
That’s also what allows him to come into our environment and still be brave and bold.”
What only insiders know: Because Sullivan's mother Heike has German roots, the offensive jewel can play for the German national team.
As the
tz
learned, the DFB had him on the list, observed him several times and obtained information.
However, there has been no contact yet.
After Can Uzun and Kenan Yildiz, the DFB could lose the race for another promising young player against another association.
© Sportfoto Rudel / Imago
DFB is fighting for American Sullivan - but he doesn't speak a word of German
One reason for the Germans' hesitation: Sullivan is an option for the U15 team at the DFB.
There are only courses there and no official international matches yet.
The association believes that traveling to Germany for this would be too much effort for the player.
We also want to wait and see how it develops.
Sullivan feels totally American; he doesn't speak a word of German.
Changing his mind will be difficult for the DFB anyway.
But: If so, then according to
tz
information it would be possible now.
Better sooner than too late.
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Sullivan, who is being watched by the DFB, is causing a sensation in the USA's U-teams
In August 2023, as a 13-year-old, Sullivan not only led the USA to the title at the U15 CONCACAF tournament, but also won the Golden Ball as the best player.
Recently, it was unclear for a while which US course Sullivan would take part in next.
Now it is clear: He will be with the U16 national team in April.
Before that, Sullivan is scheduled to take part in the prestigious Generation Adidas Cup with the Philadelphia Union U17, which begins on March 30th.
All eyes of the international scouts are on Sullivan again.
US prodigy will soon move to Europe: Manchester City has Sullivan's contract
The biggest clubs, such as Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and FC Bayern, were courting him.
In the spring of 2022, as a 12-year-old, he even played on a trial basis with Borussia Dortmund's U15s at the Kevin De Bruyne Cup in Belgium.
In mid-January, however, word leaked out: Manchester City had won Sullivan's contract.
Teams from the EU are only allowed to sign the German-American at the age of 16, English clubs only at the age of 18.
The Skyblues' plan therefore stipulates that Sullivan should only spend two seasons at Lommel SK in Belgium, a team in the City Football Group.
Then the big step to Manchester City should follow.
(Philipp Kessler, Manuel Bonke)