Quite a few hoped that Yusuf Kabadayi, a real Munich native, would soon make the leap from FC Bayern’s youth ranks to the professionals. However, Kabadayi ultimately made his professional debut during a current loan spell at FC Schalke 04 – a return to the Bavarian capital doesn’t really seem to be a priority for the youngster.
“My goal is to play in the 1st Bundesliga at some point,” emphasizes the 19-year-old, who is currently on loan from FC Bayern to Bundesliga relegated S04, in an interview with “WAZ”, but adds “ideally with Schalke “That’s a big goal of mine.”
It is not up to him whether he will play in Gelsenkirchen beyond the summer of 2024, but he can well “imagine staying here longer,” said Kabadayi.
The youngster’s contract with FC Bayern ends in the summer of 2025, but FC Schalke 04 has secured a purchase option and could sign the German U20 international after the season anyway. According to the “WAZ”, however, depending on the club’s performance in the league, between 800,000 and 1.3 million euros will be due. A sum that the Royal Blues will at least not invest lightly.
Schalke comeback the “highlight of the season”
It is all the more annoying that Kabadayi is currently unable to promote himself: a torn muscle fiber has kept the offensive player out of action since the beginning of December. However, he is aiming to return to play in the second half of the season.
However, the top talent has already proven his skills. Kabadayi has played in ten games for FC Schalke 04 so far, scoring two goals.
However, he has the best memories of a game in which he couldn’t get his name on the scoreboard. The fact that S04 was able to turn around a 0-2 defeat against 1. FC Magdeburg in a 4-3 win after his substitution was “his highlight of the season so far,” said Kabadayi.
However, something much bigger could still follow: promotion to the Bundesliga.
Although things are looking rather bleak for Schalke at the moment, Kabadayi has not given up on this goal yet. Maybe then the dream of making a first division debut in a Schalke jersey will come true.