Five reasons why Dayot Upamecano should stay put at RB Leipzig

The defender has to become one of the best players at the back in Europe.

Dayot Upamecano has grown miles and bounds under German tactician Julian Nagelsmann ever since the latter joined RB Leipzig as their manager. In the 2019-20 season, Leipzig had managed to make it to the UEFA Champions League semifinals for the first time in their club history and the 21-year old French defender played a pivotal role in their campaign.

Nagelsmann's men also had the second best defensive record this season in Germany, just behind Champions Bayern Munich - much credit for which goes to Dayot Upamecano and his abilities. The Frenchman is big, fast and exceptional with the ball at his feet. Despite his tender age, his game reading skills make him one of the best defensive talents in the world currently.

It is obvious that top clubs across Europe will be tempted looking at that kind of talent. According to reports, Manchester United are weighing their options and in the past clubs like Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Manchester City all have shown their interest in the young Frenchman.

However, there are several reasons why a move away from the Bundesliga at this point will not be a fair call for Dayot Upamecano.

5. He is one of the leaders in the Leipzig side

Despite being only a youngster, Dayot Upamecano is one of those vocal defenders who keeps on shouting orders to his fellow defenders. The Frenchman is confident with the ball at his feet and has immense trust in his abilities, often covering up for his teammates' mistakes.

The 21-year-old keeps a cool head, which was proven by the way he kept Diego Costa out of the game in the quarterfinals against Atletico Madrid. The Frenchman was often seen signalling his teammates to hold shape and even shouting at them if they faltered. So if he stays at the club for longer he may well be offered the captain's armband to a very ambitious project soon.

4. An integral part of Julian Nagelsmann's project

Dayot Upamecano joined RB Leipzig in 2017 and was earlier managed by Ralph Hasenhüttl. But ever since Nagelsmann took charge, he has shown immense trust in the youngster's abilities. He has given him much more freedom and that is why we often see the youngster taking risks with the ball. Nagelsmann's ability to get the best out of his players, which has helped the defender grow immensely.

It is obvious that the German tactician considers Dayot Upamecano for the long project at Leipzig. In the 2019-20 season, Nagelsmann was able to take the team to the semifinals and the upcoming years might see the Die Rotten Bullen advance even further.

3. Bundesliga is more suited for his growth

In football, we have often seen world-class talents getting fizzled out in thin air, because they lacked patience. The 21-year-old defender is considered as a generational talent, however, rushing a transfer and ending up in a less favorable situation is the last thing that Dayot Upamecano would want to see.

He was part of the second-best defence in the Bundesliga and will look to inspire his team to get even better in that regard. The French defender matured with time and looks more composed currently, almost like a leader marshalling his troops from the back. Despite all his abilities, Dayot Upamecano is currently far from a seasoned professional and till be becomes one, he should decide in favour to stay in Germany.

2. A settled life in Germany

Dayot Upamecano is at a crossroads in his career currently. With RB Leipzig taking big steps in the Bundesliga and in Europe, the team needs the services of their best defender in the coming years. The 21-year-old has been in Germany for some time and is a fan favourite. It would be bizarre for the youngster to move away at this stage of his career when things have just started to fall in place.

If he moves to the Premier League, he will have to adapt to the climate, the country and the playing style of the league among others, which might have a different impact on his career. The Frenchman needs to focus on his game and concentrate on his development as a player currently, which is why staying in the Bundesliga makes more sense for the youngster.

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1. More playing time

Dayot Upamecano has been Nagelsmann's trump card in defence. The German tactician allows him to take risks with the ball and plays him in almost all matches throughout the season. The Frenchman's ability to adapt his game according to the team's formation makes him one of the most wanted defenders in the world.

The Frenchman played 3177 minutes in the last season, becoming a towering presence at the back for Leipzig throughout the season. However, if he decides to move away from the club in the summer, there is no certainty that he will get as much game time and have an equally important role that he already has at the Red Bull Arena.

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