Assan Ouédraogo is a rising star in German football. He had an impressive season with FC Schalke 04 in the 2. Bundesliga in 2023/24 and caught the attention of several top clubs.
Among them was Bayern Munich, who listed Ouédraogo as a potential transfer target according to reliable sources. However, the 18-year-old ultimately chose to join RB Leipzig for a fee of just 10 million euros.
When asked why he turned down Bayern, Ouédraogo explained that it wasn’t a decision against a specific club but rather a choice in favor of Leipzig. He highlighted his familiarity with Leipzig’s sporting director Rouven Schröder from their time at Schalke.
“In Leipzig, I see the opportunity to develop and showcase my football on a big stage. Money wasn’t the main factor.
It was about my personal growth. I looked at where young players have made significant strides, and that was the key factor in my decision,” Ouédraogo told Sport Bild.
While Bayern isn’t necessarily a bad choice, Leipzig offered compelling reasons that resonated with Ouédraogo. His decision reflects the challenges young players face breaking into and developing within Bayern’s squad, despite examples like Musiala and Tel being exceptions rather than the norm.
As Bayern focuses on financial discipline, they’ll need to find ways to attract and invest in young talent, rather than spending large sums on older players.
