VfB Stuttgart: Matarazzo likes “Leadership” from new signing Zagadou

Defender came to VfB on a free transfer

Dan-Axel Zagadou has only been at VfB Stuttgart for ten days, but has already made a lasting impression on coach Pellegrino Matarazzo. “He radiates calm in his actions, can read game situations well and has very good forward defense and a very good left foot. The passing rate in training is excellent,” the coach praised his new central defender, who joined the Swabians on a free transfer after his contract with Borussia Dortmund expired.

Matarazzo also likes the “leadership and personality” of the 23-year-old “very much, which he brings to the team. Daxo takes the teammates and pulls the guys in a good direction. He wants to win every game – including in every training session.” The Frenchman comes to VfB with experience from 67 Bundesliga and 15 Champions League games.

However, it’s been a while since his last assignment. Most recently, Zagadou was on the pitch in a competitive game on May 14. At a press conference before the duel on Thursday, Matarazzo left open whether he would play at VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky) (quoted via “Kicker”). “I talked to him. Dan-Axel himself thinks that a place in the squad would be a big step for him. We build it up little by little. He’s definitely an option for the bench and will be in the squad if the two days until then go normally. For the starting XI he is still questionable.”

Before signing, Zagadou was the only unemployed player in the world with a market value of more than 2 million to be under the age of 25. Estimated at 9 million euros at the time, its value was adjusted to 5 million euros in the latest Bundesliga update. The former U21 national player reached his highest level in March 2020 with 35 million euros.

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