Biggest loser of HSV’s pre-season: What’s going on with Torunarigha? | OneFootball

HSV had high hopes when they brought Jordan Torunarigha from Gent a few weeks ago. However, the defender has had a disappointing summer.

It was just two months ago when Jordan Torunarigha was welcomed with great enthusiasm at Volkspark. Hamburger SV signed the former Hertha player from Belgian European Cup participant KAA Gent, beating numerous Bundesliga competitors in the process.

"Jordan has become an absolute fixture and key player in Gent," raved Sporting Director Claus Costa shortly after his introduction. And Torunarigha himself emphasized his development into a leader. He wanted to "bring his experience into the team, take the lead and also help the young players."

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Torunarigha is under pressure from Soumahoro!

So far, however, not much of this plan can be seen. On the contrary: The 28-year-old can rightly be described as one of the biggest losers of this summer. Torunarigha wobbled in almost all test games and "crowned" his preparation with the completely unnecessary red card against RCD Mallorca (0:2). The central defender still has to expect a suspension in the Bundesliga because of this.

In the DFB Cup duel against Pirmasens, Torunarigha was allowed to play initially. However, his performance was not a bid for further starting eleven appearances. The left-footer only won two of his five ground duels, seemed insecure and also got involved in verbal exchanges with the Palatinate spectators. The logical consequence: After only 68 minutes, he was substituted early – partly at the expense of a more offensive game idea.

Now more than ever, the new signing planned as a defensive chief must fear for his place in the starting lineup. Youngster Aboubaka Soumahoro is already chomping at the bit after a mostly strong preparation and could take over for Torunarigha against Borussia Mönchengladbach (August 24).

The final decision on this is likely to be made in the current training week. And yet: The fact that one of HSV's most prominent new signings has to fight so hard for his position was not planned by the sporting management.

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