La Quotidienne de Bruxelles - Union Berlin President and CEO Demand Playing Time for Teen Prodigy Linus Güther

Union Berlin president Dirk Zingler and CEO Horst Heldt are urging the club to integrate 16-year-old forward Linus Güther into the first team, citing his exceptional form in the U19 squad despite a struggling senior attack.

Güther recently captained the U19 side to a 2-0 victory over Babelsberg, providing the opening assist and scoring the second goal. The performance was observed closely by Zingler and Heldt, who view the teenager as one of the club’s most significant talents.

Despite these displays, Güther has been largely excluded from the senior squad. He was not named in the matchday roster for a recent 1-1 draw against Köln and has accumulated only one minute of Bundesliga playing time this season.

The call for his inclusion comes as Union Berlin’s offense faces difficulties, having scored just seven goals in their first eight league matches. Internal discussions regarding Güther’s future have reportedly taken place earlier this week, with Zingler and Heldt advocating for increased opportunities.

However, the final decision rests with head coach Mauro Lustrinelli. Critics note that Güther is still physically developing and must adapt to the physicality of professional defenders. Nevertheless, his U19 record—six goals and four assists in five games—has drawn attention from several top clubs.

Union Berlin faces a potential retention challenge if the teenager continues to be sidelined. Interest in Güther remains strong among other teams, with his next opportunity potentially arriving in the upcoming match against Freiburg.

P.Matthys--LCdB