Szoboszlai: Leipzig want to use Olmo blueprint in battle to keep Hungarian star

The timing just before the DFB Pokal final in Berlin was telling. In an interview with Hungarian publication "Index", forward Dominik Szoboszlai spoke openly about potentially leaving RB Leipzig this summer. “I am in a good position,” Szoboszlai said in the interview. “I don’t want to look back in 15 years and realize that I haven’t made the most with my career.” 

Szoboszlai has been heavily linked with a potential transfer to Premier League side Newcastle United. Leipzig, in turn, reportedly want at least €70 million for the Hungarian attacking midfielder. The rumor mill has been in overdrive, with some sources suggesting that Marco Rose had a personal conversation with the 22-year-old Hungarian. There were even suggestions that Szoboszlai could be left out of the starting XI for the cup final against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. 

Rose, however, categorically denied those rumors on Friday at a press conference. “I think it is a great signal that Dani Olmo has signed a new contract,” Rose said when asked ahead of the DFB Pokal final on Friday about Szoboszlai, clearly deflecting the topic to more positive news. “We are in good form. [Dominik Szoboszlai] is in good form. There was no conversation between me and the player because we didn’t have anything to talk about.”

Rose deflects Szoboszlai to Newcastle rumors – Olmo contract a blueprint

It was fascinating to see that Rose and RB Leipzig captain Willi Orban kept stressing the importance of Olmo’s contract renewal at the pregame press conference. The 25-year-old Spaniard has long been linked with a move away from the club and has now signed a new deal until 2027. That deal might, however, include an agreement that will allow Olmo to leave if a club offers in the region of €60m.  

“As our coach said earlier, It is great for the club and for us as a team to keep a player of his talent,” Orban said when asked about Olmo. “Olmo is very ambitious, and that makes him fit well in the team as we have big goals. We want to win titles. Hopefully, as early as tomorrow.” Rose naturally agreed. “I see it the same way,” Rose said. “He wants to continue his path with us. Dani is a great footballer, a great personality, who is good for us, and who will help us tomorrow.” 

The deflection was telling. Leipzig want media intrigue to shift the focus on Olmo rather than discussing Szoboszlai’s future. But there is also a message to the player packaged in the quotes. Leipzig are an ambitious club that had the best league record of any Bundesliga club since Rose took charge from Domenico Tedesco in the fall. In other words, the club wants to win titles, and that does not just include the Pokal on Saturday but also challenging Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in the league. Whether those ambitions can be combined with selling Szoboszlai this summer remains to be seen.