“When I was younger, I always watched (Cristiano) Ronaldo, his way of being, his mentality and everything. And when I became a midfielder, I would say players like Yaya Touré and Zinédine Zidane”. Invited to give his inspirations as a footballer, the German international Felix Nmecha named the magnificent Ivorian playing master of Manchester City from 2010 to 2017 and therefore the legend of French football, Ballon d’Or 98 and Galactic of Real Madrid from 2001 to 2006.
Nmecha is a 2000 (he was born on October 10, 2000), so he did not see “Zizou”‘s double in the World Cup final against Brazil and has no memory of the winning volley in the final of the 2002 Champions League against Leverkusen nor the recital of the number 10 of the Blues during the 2006 World Cup (until his headbutt in the final on Marco Materazzi). The Marseille native, however, makes a superb example of a midfielder/playmaker.
Zidane for model for now number 6
Recruited for 30 million euros by Dortmund in 2023, Nmecha, a 1.90 m central midfielder, has established himself as the valiant number 6 of his team this season. Julian Nagelsmann called him up for the November Nations League matches and Nmecha started against Hungary (1-1) to score his first international goal. The Mannschaft strategist placed him alone number 6 in his system, Robert Andrich retreating to defense in the offensive phase (like Toni Kroos before his retirement).
Like Jamal Musiala, Felix Nmecha has the distinction of being a German international who grew up in England. This Mancunian trained at City was even an English U16, U18 and U19 player before choosing Germany for the U21 side. He is a native of Hamburg to a German mother and a Nigerian father. After two matches under the orders of Pep Guardiola (in the EFL Cup and the Champions League), Nmecha attempted the German adventure in 2021 by signing for Wolfsburg, where he was able to explode in the Bundesliga.
