(RB Leipzig, Ger & Fra)
When it comes to the player-trade
business, the best operations do not
necessarily involve solid citizens and
irreproachable characters. On occasion,
great value can be derived from a
reformed bad boy – and prospective
buyers may see Augustin as one such
“reclamation project”.
The truth is that RB Leipzig, who
signed the striker from Paris Saint-
Germain for €13million two years ago,
cannot wait to see the back of him. Still
only 21, he might hail from the Greater
Paris town of Plaisir – the French word
for “pleasure” – but he has spread
precious little joy during the time he
has spent in Germany.
JKA, as he is known, often goesthrough the motions in training, is
inconsistent and ill-disciplined, only
warms up half-heartedly as a substitute- his default role for much of the current
campaign – and has not bothered to
learn the German language.
Two incidents last autumn cemented
his image as a natural-born rebel.
First he was thrown out of the French
under-21 squad after rejecting a call-
up by text message, with coach Sylvain
Ripoll angrily denouncing the youngster’s
claims of “muscle fatigue” as spurious.
Then he was handed a temporary first-
team ban by Leipzig for missing a team
meeting prior to a Europa League defeat
at home to Salzburg. It transpired that
instead of attending the briefing, Augustin
and team-mate Nordi Mukiele were lost
in a world of their own on one of the
player benches, headphones on and
playing with their mobile phones.
“There are things that explain why
some players were not ready for this
game,” stormed RB coach Ralf Rangnick.
Augustin’s poor attitude has served to
isolate him in the RB dressing room and
team-mate Yussuf Poulsen has said: “In
his daily work, he has come up short
more than once.
“To be frank, as time has gone on,
this situation has become irritating. His
potential is immense and with greater
determination he really could help us.”
And Rangnick could only could agree,
adding: “I understand Poulsen’s reaction.It’s completely justified.”
Rangnick, who once described JKA as
“brimming over with ability”, has clearly
made up his mind about the Parisian,
who has made only a handful of
Bundesliga starts this season and last
had a full 90-minute run-out in October.
Conversely, the French-Haitian has
enjoyed considerably more game time in
the Europa League, usually in the line-up
at kick-off.
What a shame it has all gone so
wrong. France’s most influential(Internazionale,
Ita & Arg)
The striker only
recently returned
to Inter’s starting
line-up after being
stripped of the
captaincy amid a
contract stand-off
that has yet to be
resolved. His agent
wife, Wanda, is set
for a busy summer,
with likely interest
from Juventus and
Napoli.(Milan, Ita & IvC)
The midfielder’s
two-year loan
from Atalanta
will become
permanent this
summer, but
Milan’s financial
problems may
force a sale. A
bust-up with
team-mate Lucas
Biglia during a
recent game with
Inter may hasten
his departure.MAURO ICARDI FRANCK KESSIE
JEAN-KEVIN AUGUSTIN
MOST WANTED Unsettled
“His potential is
immense and with
greater determination
he really could help us”
RB Leipzig team-
mate Yussuf Poulsen