El Mala Transition to U21 Team Confirmed by Nagelsmann

Said El Mala’s transition from the German senior team to the U21 squad has been officially confirmed. German national team head coach Julian Nagelsmann addressed this move, clarifying the reasons behind El Mala’s departure while his fellow 19-year-old teammate, Assan Ouédraogo, remains with the senior team.

Ouédraogo was a late addition to the senior squad, whereas El Mala was part of Nagelsmann’s initial selection. The head coach emphasized that El Mala’s exit from the senior team was simply a matter of positioning. The recent suspension of Borussia Dortmund winger Karim Adeyemi for the qualifier against Luxembourg allowed for increased versatility in the attacking flanks.

Nagelsmann explained that Ouédraogo’s inclusion was strategic, as he aimed to bolster the team with additional players capable of fulfilling the No. 8 role.

While acknowledging El Mala’s commendable training efforts, Nagelsmann also echoed sentiments from the player’s club coach, Lukas Kwasniok. “He [El Mala] needs to focus on the areas that Lukas Kwasniok mentioned,” Nagelsmann stated during a DFB press event on Monday. “He must establish himself as an undisputed regular at his club. This was his first experience at the senior level, and he proved to be a very pleasant young man—humble yet confident.”