RB Leipzig outline two-way link with Bragantino and Klopp effect | OneFootball

Johann Plenge, Chief Business Officer (CBO) of RB Leipzig, is one of the key figures in the mechanism that connects the German club to Red Bull's global network. In this structure, Brazil and Red Bull Bragantino are not only seen as talent suppliers but as strategic learning partners.

For the executive, the relationship between the teams crosses the Atlantic in both directions.

"It's not a one-way street; it works both ways. I am 100% convinced that there are approaches and capabilities at Red Bull Bragantino where Leipzig can learn something. If our Under-16 team goes to Bragança, it's not to show them how to do it, but to show how we do it and learn where they might already be a step ahead," stated Plenge.

This integration starts early and involves preparing Brazilian athletes not only technically but culturally for Europe. Plenge cited a practical example of this "globalization" at the Massa Bruta base.

"Offering English classes at the Red Bull Bragantino Academy is something to prepare the players. If they come to Europe, most likely to Leipzig someday, they will already be adapted to the language. We can't do anything about the cold, but we can prepare them culturally," he explained.

This preparation could, in the future, intensify the exchange of players, as already happens between RB Leipzig and RB Salzburg, where the projects have been consolidated for a longer time. Names like Upamecano, Laimer, Haidara, and Sesko have moved from Salzburg to Leipzig in recent years.

The Jürgen Klopp Factor

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Another central point for the future of Leipzig is the presence of Jürgen Klopp as Red Bull's Global Head of Football. According to Plenge, the influence of the former Liverpool coach is felt daily, especially in supporting the group's technical commands.

"The most intense exchange is between Jürgen and our main coaches. It's not about telling someone what to do, but about asking the right questions and challenging (tactical) decisions. I can't have a conversation with our coach as an equal because he is the expert. But surely he has a conversation with Jürgen as an equal. It's the experts talking to each other," he revealed.

Chasing Bayern and a Clear Identity

With a consolidated structure and 16 years of history, RB Leipzig's goal remains ambitious: to shorten the distance to the giant Bayern Munich and maintain itself as a powerhouse of innovation and "hunger" for victories.

"No one in this organization should think that our journey is already complete. Everyone must remain hungry. We want to be Bayern's number one challenger. If they stumble, we have to be there to attack them," concluded the director.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

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