That's obviously good for him, but I find it kind of crazy that they're going back to normal training with infections rising so quickly in Germany.
Wolfsburg's Managing Director mentioned, "“As long as this is not canceled, we have to accept it,” Wolfsburg Managing Director of Sport Jorg Schmadtke said. “We will keep the distances. First of all training will take place in four small groups in the weight room, four cabins are available, four different shower rooms, which will continue to be disinfected after each use.”" https://sbisoccer.com/2020/03/report-llanez-to-begin-training-with-wolfsburg-first-team
My boy with the first team🙏 lets go💪 https://t.co/4Uspyu6wo4— Sr. Ulysses Perez Llanez (@ULlanez) April 7, 2020
One thing clarified in the article is that they planning on Uly for Winter Camp but let him go to USMNT instead. Wolfsburg already planned to include Llanez in the January training camp for the first team. Instead, he traveled to the United States to score in his senior debut against Costa Rica. Now he is supposed to make his mark for the first team. I just mention it because some saw his Camp Cupcake attendance as a sign Wolfsburg had no plans for him.
That seems like a very weird decision. I would have thought all three parties would have thought the Wolfsburg winter camp would have been better for his career.
More caps also means a higher valuation if they want to sell him, so perhaps they see the business benefits of having him establish himself with the USMNT.
I would have been concerned if he had already debuted and they let him go. An NT call up occurred before a first team appearance is a great showcase and I'm sure went into the club's calculations. It's only one Winter training after all.
I wonder if it says more of where they saw him in their plans at the time. I'd assume there are guys that they are looking to integrate into the side and ones they want to give a taste but expect to be sending back down. Winter training was the beginning of Pulisic and Reyna's first team careers. Just trying to guess at the reasoning that they didnt expect anything like that and were likely to send him back down to the u19s. If that were the case, getting him extra exposure could be helpful for a potential loan??? Oh well, it just seemed odd as I'd think it would be in everyone's best interest get him integrated into Wolfsburg's first team and dont think an extra cap in friendly without the teams key players is worth that much. In the end, I dont think it makes much difference. This is the schedule he missed to join the USMNT. Wolfsburg 4-11 January – winter training camp in Almancil, Portugal 10 January – 1-1 draw vs. FC Seoul 10 January – 2-1 loss vs. Servette 18 January – league action resumes with road game against Cologne
Knowing the camp was in LA, he probably also wanted his family to have a chance to see his first full international game in person. He had at least 20-30 family and friends in attendance.
Does Uly have a pro contract with Wolfsburg or did he just stay in Germany? I just realized you cannot enter Germany from the United States if you do not have a proper work permit.
academy contract. wolfsburg wanted him to stay though from my understanding. he also played in an intrasquad friendly with the first on Wednesday in augsburg on saturday, meaning he should be on the bench for the weekend
this article is behind a paywall but here it is in full: Will Ulysses Llanez be VfL Wolfsburg's surprise? The 19-year-old American trains with the professionals. And is appreciated by those responsible. Ulysses Llanez is the chick in training at VfL Wolfsburg. The 19-year-old has been practicing with the Bundesliga team of coach Oliver Glasner, where he is the youngest, since the start of the Corona break and can take on a surprising role in the green and whites in the final sprint. The Wolfsburgers are quantitatively well manned on the offensive wings, where Llanez feels most comfortable. With Renato Steffen and Felix Klaus (both on the right) as well as Josip Brekalo and Joao Victor (both on the left), there are two contenders for one position in the 4-2-3-1 system that Trainer Glasner last used. Only: No player in this quartet poses a really constant goal. Four Bundesliga goals from Steffen are decent, three from Brekalo as well. But Victor (one goal) and Klaus (zero) put too little pressure on the second row. And that's where Llanez comes in. The 19-year-old showed in the A-Junior season that he knows where the dangerous rooms are on the field. Eleven goals and six assists in 16 games are a strong record. So strong that the US national coach has already noticed and appointed Llanez to the senior team at the beginning of the year. A good grip. Because the Wolfsburg scored his first goal in his first international match against Costa Rica. Nervous: he got the 1-0 winning goal from the penalty spot. From then on, he continued to collect plus points in the VfL-U19, which he had come to from LA Galaxy II in summer 2019. Llanez is also valued by those responsible for the Wolfsburg professional team. To prove it: He was called up to the Europa League squad in winter. He has not yet played in Glasner's team. But that can change after the Corona mandatory break. Marcel Schäfer, sports director, recently praised in the "Kicker": "Ulysses is very clear in his actions, strong in one-on-one and in the end." Perhaps the American will soon prove that in the Bundesliga. https://www.wolfsburger-nachrichten...anez-die-Ueberraschung-des-VfL-Wolfsburg.html
Bundesliga is considering allowing 5 subs per game. I'd think this would increase his chances of getting playing time https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-and-sports-bundesliga-to-discuss-allowing-5-subs/a-53318310
Is he the best of the four Llanez, Alvarez, Mendez and Ledezma? *edit* - knew I forgot one, added Mendez.