At least one person hasn’t completely forgotten how to laugh! While there is a bad mood at FC Schalke 04 after the 2:5 debacle against Hertha, a loanee from the Royal Blues is currently really thriving: Soichiro Kozuki.
The Japanese left FC Schalke 04 last winter and joined Gornik Zabrze from the Polish first division. He will play there alongside DFB legend Lukas Podolski until the end of the year. The offensive player is currently presenting himself at his best and is a celebrated star. S04 looks closely.
FC Schalke 04: Loan is extremely exciting
FC Schalke 04 will probably also think that this is how a loan can go. While Soichiro Kozuki barely played for the Royal Blues in the first half of the season, he is now one of the best players in Gornik Zabrze’s team in Poland. Last weekend he even scored his first goal – in the derby at Ruch Chorzow.
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Kozuki came on as a substitute in the second half and took the ball in the final stages. After a strong solo down the right side, in which he made his opponents look old, he confidently converted to make it 2-0 for his team. Zabrze conceded the goal in the last few minutes, but in the end there was a narrow derby victory.
“My first few minutes were okay and I tried to set the right pace for the actions and keep myself on the ball. But the opponent played well,” said a happy Kozuki and added: “When I come onto the field, I know my tasks and I think I have fulfilled them.” The joy about his first goal is also great: “I was I realize how important a derby is. You could feel the atmosphere as soon as you entered the stadium.”
S04 looks closely
FC Schalke 04 will also be happy that things are going so well with the loan. At first he had some problems, but now the footballer has fully settled into Poland. Kozuki can continue to prove himself at Zabrze until the end of December 2024. The club also has a purchase option for the 23-year-old Japanese. According to media reports, it should be 300,000 euros.
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If the Polish club decides to use this purchase option, Schalke also has a buyback option from Kozuki. Kozuki would then return to the Knappen for 800,000 euros, reports “Sport Bild”. Apparently the Revierklub hasn’t completely given up on the Japanese yet.