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El Mala: The Cologne shooting star conquers the football stage!
Said El Mala, talented winger for 1. FC Köln, scores with great performances in the Bundesliga and attracts interest from top European clubs.
El Mala: The Cologne shooting star conquers the football stage!
What an exciting time for young footballer Said El Mala! The 19-year-old, who currently plays for 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga, recently drew attention with a decisive goal in the 1-0 win against Hoffenheim. In the starting line-up for the first time, El Mala showed that with his “street footballer mentality” he had not only won the trust of coach Lukas Kwasniok, but also that of Cologne football legend Lukas Podolski. The latter praises the talented winger and emphasizes his positive charisma and self-confidence, which give the team new impetus.
El Mala is not only a talented newcomer to the Bundesliga, he has already scored two goals and an assist in his first season. His remarkable career spanned a season on loan in which he contributed 13 goals and five assists for Viktoria Köln in the 3rd division and was named newcomer of the 2024/25 season for his achievements. He has also impressed on the international stage: at the U19 European Championships in 2025, he played a key role in helping the German U19 national team reach the semi-finals with four goals and just as many assists, which underlines his abilities as a winger.
A hot object of desire
Of course, a player with so much potential doesn't go unnoticed. Rumors are circulating about interest from big clubs like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. But the Cologne media report that El Mala is not for sale in winter; Sports director Thomas Kessler would only react with a smile to an offer of 40 million euros. This is no coincidence as the club recently extended his contract until 2030 without an exit clause. This speaks for the great trust that FC Köln has in its young star.
The path seems to have been paved for El Mala, but the voices around him are cautious. U21 national coach Antonio Di Salvo recognizes the immense potential of the talented player, but warns of the negative effects of the hype. He emphasizes that it is important to build El Mala carefully and give him the necessary playing opportunities so that he can develop accordingly.
A look at the competition
There are numerous talents in the Bundesliga that are highly sought after in the U21 category. In fact, the most promising U21 players also include names like Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz and Xavi Simons. Musiala even tops the list with a market value of 110 million euros. These developments show how valuable young players are in football these days. Said El Mala also potentially has the opportunity to join this ranks if he continues to work hard and improve his skills.
The coming months will be crucial for Said El Mala's development. With the support of the club and the first team, he has every chance of establishing himself as one of the biggest talents in German football. We are excited to see what the future holds for this young kicker!
For more information about Said El Mala you can read the news on Review online and Bundesliga.com track. Also offers Transfer market interesting insights into the market values of the league's most talented players.