New Germany call-up Bisseck almost became a doctor instead
New Germany call-up Yann Aurel Bisseck almost quit football to train as a doctor, but now he hopes to be the perfect medicine for their Nations League quarter-final.
The 24-year-old Inter Milan defender has had a circuitous route to the Germany squad having not played in the Bundesliga since 2018. He went to the lower leagues and then the Netherlands, Portugal and Denmark before ending up in Italy.
While at Portuguese club Vitoria Guimarães, he almost packed in football during an injury lay-off.
"When I think that I almost stopped playing football during my time in Portugal in order to study medicine, I am now extremely happy about how everything went and that I never gave up on my dream," Bisseck told Sport1 late on Thursday.
The defender was included in the Germany squad for the first time by coach Julian Nagelsmann on Thursday for the Nations League quarter-final two legs against Italy later this month. The first game is in Dortmund next Thursday, with the return in Milan a week on Sunday.
The news of his nomination was a "huge honour," he said.
"The fact that I'm now involved in the matches against Italy of all teams and that a game is taking place in my living room at the San Siro in Milan makes the whole thing even more special," added Bisseck. "It's almost unimaginable."
Germany's record appearance maker Lothar Matthäus is convinced of Bisseck's qualities.
His nomination is "fully deserved," the pundit wrote in a column for Sky.
The Cologne native is one of the best centre-backs in the Italian league, added the 63-year-old former Inter player. "Bisseck is young and dynamic. At Inter Milan, you have to have something extraordinary to even play in their defence."
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