No limits for 15-year-old Dortmund sensation Moukoko

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By Oliver Trust

BERLIN, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Youssoufa Moukoko is still 15 years of age, and it might be hasty to call him a grownup man despite his body height of 1.77 meters. His head is assumedly full of thoughts typical for teenagers. But other than most of his age-mates, the Cameroon-born footballer seems on his way to becoming one of football's most fabulous.

German and English media call him the biggest promise in Germam football.

Having set several goal records in different youth teams, the German juvenile international is now ahead of a significant step in his career following 31 goals in 18 youth league games and eight assists.

Dortmund's first-team coach Lucien Favre is talking about training with the clubs' professional team. "We have a plan for him," the Swiss said. "Maybe March, but we carefully sort out things first."

Despite Favre's cautiousness, Dortmund's efforts came to light to convince the 36 German professional clubs to lower the age-barrier to 16 to allow young talents to join the Bundesliga or second division sides.

The Deutsche Fussball Liga's general assembly, gathering at the end of March, is expected to support the initiative.

For Moukoko, doors seem wide open as soon as he is turning 16 on November 20 this year.

Returning to the German under-19 national team's training camp this Sunday is said to be an in-between step. The striker wasn't picked for two and a half years to protect him as protagonists claimed. Coaches and his parents agreed to give him a break to promote his development.

It seems a done deal that Moukoko is taking part in Germany's Euro qualifiers against Wales, Austria, and Serbia at the end of March.

The forward seems ready for the big stage.

Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund strengthened his reputation as a haven for young footballers. Currently, the 19-year-old's Norwegian Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho and 17-year-old Giovanni Reyna seem to send the Blacks and Yellow's fans into raptures.

No one seems happier about Haaland and Reyna as the gifted Youngsters attract all attention, delivering star quality while Dortmund's next star can develop aside of too much public attention.

This, of course, might soon change, but Dortmund's Youth coordinator, 1997 Champions League winner Lars Ricken, underlined "we will take care of him properly."

To guide its raw diamond seems one of the biggest challenges for the 2012 German Champion.

Sports supplier Nike already provided an endorsement contract worth around ten million euros before Moukoko turned 15. In the UEFA Youth League, he became the youngest performer to score four goals in seven games.

At one point, he had an astonishing record of 13 goals in five games for the Under-17s.

In 2019 Borussia extended his contract with the club until 2022. Pundits predict the attacker soon will be subject to a fierce battle of all top European sides.

The footballer did spend his first ten years with his grandparents in Cameroon before his father could take him to Germany. After two years in youth teams of the second division side St. Pauli in Hamburg, he started his steep climb as Dortmund's new wonderboy.

"In my time as Borussia's youth coordinator, we didn't have that many top talents around. It wouldn't surprise me if we see several of these guys in the first team soon," Ricken said, adding, "it is not about setting new records but to provide an option for these youngsters." Enditem

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