Bundesliga
Kanda and Mehmeti train with Leipzig
There were two unfamiliar faces working up a sweat at RB Leipzig’s Cottaweg headquarters on Wednesday afternoon.
RB Omiya central midfielder Taito Kanda, 17, and New York Red Bulls holding midfielder Adri Mehmeti, 16, are taking part in an exchange programme involving the Saxony outfit and their partner clubs.
As such, the teenagers were given the opportunity to showcase their skills alongside the rest of Ole Werner’s squad in a first-team training session.
Japan Under-17 international Kanda represented his country at the AFC U17 Asian Cup earlier this year, appearing in all three group matches at the tournament in Saudi Arabia.
Mehmeti, who made three appearances for Albania’s Under-15 side before switching his international allegiance to the USA, was part of the New York Red Bulls second string that lifted the MLS Next Pro Championship earlier this week.
The holding midfielder has already featured in the New York club’s MLS matchday squad, having been an unused substitute in a 2-1 victory over Toronto FC back in March.
Leipzig say the exchange programme, which involves players from Red Bull-affiliated teams training with one another, further promotes the “close relationships” between the Saxony outfit and their partner clubs.
Brazilian striker Rômulo did not take part in Wednesday’s session as his workload is being closely being monitored, while Kosta Nedeljković is still working his way back from a knee injury.