In recent weeks, there has been a lot of talk about Bradley Barcola who is shining brightly with PSG. But another nugget from the OL training center, which was still playing between Rhône and Saône last season, is making a strong impression in Europe. It is obviously Castello Lukeba. Sold for €40 million to RB Leipzig last summer, the Lyon native did not take long to get everyone in the pocket within the German club.
In a few months, the number 23 of RB Leipzig has gone through all the emotions. Having become an indisputable starter in the rear guard of the team coached by Marco Rose who is full of praise for his French defender, Lukeba was inducted captain of the French Espoir team by Thierry Henry and experienced the joys of honor his first cap with the A against Scotland last October. Enough to see his status somewhat changed as he mentioned it again last March. “My status has changed a little. I played in a Euro Espoirs, changed clubs (from OL to RB Leizpig) and had the chance to rub shoulders with the French A team as well (1st selection during France-Scotland last October), which means that I’m definitely going to be expected a little more from now on. So I have to bring the experience that I gained with my new team and with the Blues to this group where there are players younger than me. This is our role, the “elders””he explained at the U23 press conference in Clairefontaine.
Manchester United and Chelsea not indifferent to his performances
The former Lyonnais has been able to gain experience in recent months. Between a very educational offensive Bundesliga for defenders, the discovery of the Champions League (7 matches as a starter and two clashes against Manchester City and an appearance in our typical team on the 3rd day of the group stage of the C1 ) and a cruel elimination against Real Madrid in the 1/8 finals, Lukeba (43 matches in all competitions) delights Leipzig supporters with his physique, his ability to win duels, his positioning with and without the ball and his propensity to bring out the balloons neatly. Two final areas where he has clearly progressed since his arrival in Germany.
A regularity which already makes the one who dreams of competing in the 2024 Olympics in Paris with France a preferential target for a few English clubs who have checked his name on their short list. According to our information, Manchester United has been monitoring his performances for several weeks. More recently, it was Chelsea who came to take the temperature regarding the defensive rock of RB Leipzig. The German club, which has included a release clause set at €70 million valid from 2025, does not intend to let its defender slip away this summer. Not sure that this will be enough to calm the enthusiasm of the two Premier League giants.
