Benjamin Sesko: The Slovenian star who turned down Man United to affix Leipzig

“Wish to be myself” 

There isn’t any method of escaping the comparisons between Manchester City star striker Erling Haaland and RB Leipzig ahead Benjamin Sesko. Each performed for Red Bull Salzburg earlier than heading to the Bundesliga. Each are tall and prolific strikers. However talking to a roundtable forward of Leipzig’s Champions League residence fixture against Man City next week, Sesko was fast to downplay these comparisons. The comparisons between Haaland and Sesko had been one massive matter through the roundtable; one other dialogue level was why Sesko in the end turned down Manchester United and moved to the Bundesliga as an alternative. 

However earlier than we chatted about his switch, it was all about Haaland, and Sesko was fast to explain his admiration for the Norwegian striker. “I imply, you might be evaluating me to somebody who is without doubt one of the greatest gamers on the planet,” the 20-year-old Slovenian stated when requested about being in comparison with Haaland. “I’m my very own participant. The one factor that makes us type of comparable is the peak. However we have now a really completely different fashion of play. I like him as a participant, however I don’t like to check myself to anybody; I simply wish to be myself.” 

The comparisons are certainly a bit unfair. Anybody watching the 2 gamers is aware of that they’re basically fairly completely different. Whereas Haaland is extra direct and highly effective, Sesko is extra dynamic and technical in his method. Then, there’s additionally the truth that Haaland’s rise at Salzburg was way more meteoric. Though he made his debut in 2018/19, Haaland managed his breakthrough the next season, scoring an unimaginable 29 objectives in 27 video games throughout all competitions for Salzburg.

Sesko vs Haaland – “It’s important to say he is without doubt one of the greatest”

Haaland shortly outgrew Austria and joined Dortmund by the 2019/20 marketing campaign. The identical can’t fairly be stated about Sesko. The Slovenian wasn’t as prolific to begin his profession and scored simply 5 objectives and three assists in 24 Austrian Bundesliga video games through the 2021/22 season. That would not cease folks from making the comparability anyhow, especially after Sesko scored several highlight real goals for both Salzburg and Slovenia. The worldwide media shortly narrowed in on the Haaland comparisons. Salzburg had carried out it once more; they’d discovered one other wunderkind striker many of the headlines alluded to on the time.

“Such comparisons inspire me and provides me vitality,” Sesko has said in the past when compared to Haaland. “They don’t signify strain. I’ll hear and study so I may be even higher than he’s. My teammates on the membership inform me that Haaland and I are very comparable, particularly when it comes to pace. Most of them even inform me that I’m higher than him!”

Confronted with the quotes and the Haaland comparisons now, Sesko was fast to downplay what was stated up to now. “If you happen to take a look at the outcomes and the statistics, then you need to say he is without doubt one of the greatest,” Sesko stated. “Perhaps I’ve some qualities during which I’m higher. However that’s principally speak amongst teammates at follow, and, typically, we have now a really completely different kind of taking part in fashion.”

Sesko turned down Man Utd to affix RB Leipzig 

Nonetheless, the Haaland comparisons had been on the market, and a number of other Premier League golf equipment were interested, in the beginning, Manchester United. “The factor is, I used to be probably not into that type of dialog,” Sesko stated when confronted with Man Utd’s curiosity in signing him. “However I feel, yeah, I feel it was higher simply to come back right here,” Sesko added. 

As a substitute, Sesko opted to stay throughout the Crimson Bull system, turning into the 20th player to move from Salzburg to Leipzig. The truth is, Leipzig secured the striker already final summer time, leaving him in Salzburg for yet one more season, the place he scored 16 objectives and 4 assists in 30 Austrian Bundesliga video games.  “It was actually essential for me to go to a spot that was taking part in an identical fashion of soccer,” Sesko stated when requested about selecting Leipzig over different golf equipment. “I already knew what to do and didn’t should undergo a complete studying course of once more.” Certainly, Sesko has hit the bottom working in Germany scoring three objectives in six video games throughout all competitors for Leipzig this season. Extraordinarily harmful off the bench, Sesko has scored each 58 minutes for the Crimson Bulls this marketing campaign.

The objectives will add additional to the rumor mill linking the Slovenian with a transfer to England and regardless that the 20-year-old is absolutely targeted on Leipzig, Sesko didn’t rule out a Premier League transfer sooner or later. “It could be good to play there,” Sesko stated. “However to begin with, let’s concentrate on the precise now, and we’ll see later.” 

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