Saturday from kl. 17.25: Czech Republic-Denmark on TV 2 and TV 2 Play.
– He came out of nowhere a bit, remembers TV 2’s football expert Mina Finstad Berg.
The 25-year-old grew up in Prague, where he was early singled out as a great talent. Schick was only eleven years old when he was picked up by the big club Sparta Prague.
On the youth teams, he scored to order.
– When I saw his technique and speed, I knew he was going to play for a club abroad, youth coach David Houloubek has said, according to The Guardian.
– SHOWS MUSCLES: With four goals, only Cristiano Ronaldo is ahead of Patrik Schick on the top scorer list in the European Championships. Photo: Paul Ellis
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Schick made his debut for the first team as an 18-year-old, but he gained his fighting experience primarily on age-specific teams.
Just after scoring two goals, he was called up on the carpet by the club’s first team coach and sports director.
Schick was sure he would get praise.
Instead, he was shown highlights from the match.
– They told me that I did not fight, that I did not help the defense and that I did not work for the team. They said I should put my shoes on the shelf because I was not on the right course to become a professional. And they did not understand why people said I was such a great talent, Schick told Reporter Magazine.
The tall, but still elegant, striker was loaned to the Bohemians in 1905. A tough battle awaited in the relegation battle. Schick did well and made his debut for the A national team the same season. Sparta offered him a new contract, but Schick was unhappy with the offer.
The top talent was sold to Italian Sampdoria for around 40 million kroner.
fate supermål:
Never has anyone scored from a longer distance than this in a European Championship
The dream transition collapsed
There it took off completely, although he was often used in a substitute role by Sampdoria coach Marco Giampaolo. In his first match from the start, he scored against Juventus.
In his debut season, 20 years old, he finished with eleven goals – only 14 starts despite. Giampaolo had to answer for why the young Czech did not start more often.
– I keep him on the bench, because if not they will sell him, the coach joked.
The suitors had lined up. And it was not just anyone. Inter, Chelsea, Roma and Juventus to name a few. The latter pulled the longest straw.
He looked like a very complete goal scorer, really
Club legend and compatriot Pavel Nedved had compared him to Zlatan Ibrahimovic himself.
The transition seemed to be as good as in a box. At the end of June 2017, while Schick was with the Czech Republic’s U21 team in the European Championships, he went to Turin to complete the medical test. The club posted pictures where the comedian gave a thumbs up wearing Juventus’ training clothes.
Then it is rare that a transition does not go well, but Schick was one of the exceptions.
– DETAILS AWAY: Juventus wrote on their website that most of the medical test had been completed, and that Schick would complete the rest of the “formalities” after the U21 European Championships. Photo: Juventus.
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About three weeks later, the transition was still unconfirmed.
Rumors began to circulate. While some claimed that Juventus were trying to change the terms of the agreement with Sampdoria, a number of media wrote that he had not passed the medical test due to a minor heart problem.
Juventus are said to have discovered an inflammation in the pericardium. The player has subsequently explained that there was only something left after a previous illness, and denied that it was something serious.
Right now Patrik is not so muscular, but you can only imagine where he is in two or three years
When Schick returned from holiday in mid-July, he is said to have been informed by the agent that Juventus would arrange a new medical test. Annoyed and bored, he boarded the plane to Turin for the second time.
– I got it checked again, but it was useless, he has told Reporter.
In mid-July, the confirmation came from the clubs that there was no transition, but without mentioning anything about a heart problem.
“Juventus and Sampdoria can confirm that they have agreed not to complete the transfer for Patrik Schick”, sounded the.
In armor
The chaos of the transition upset Massimo Ferrero, president of Samporia.
– It’s a farce, he thundered, according to Goal.
– He’s not healthy, he is very fresh. What they found corresponds to a cold. Sampdoria does not go back a millimeter on any agreements. The boy is healthy and can play, but now we have to worry about rumors that could destroy the image of one of the greatest talents in European football, he continued.
– FRITTALENDE: Sampdoria-president Massimo Ferrero. Photo: Andrew Medichini
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The good news for Schick was that a number of clubs were still interested.
The bad thing was that the buyout clause, of around NOK 250 million, had expired while Juventus hesitated. Sampdoria could demand as much as they wanted for the jewel. It made a transition far less secure.
One and a half months later, he signed for Rome. This time there was nothing in the way, neither with the medical test nor between the clubs.
He was taken on a loan with a purchase obligation. The total sum, with several performance-related clauses, could end up at more than NOK 400 million – as a record sum for the Italian Capital Club.
Crash landing
Rome’s sporting director, Monchi, was delighted to have picked up what he described as one of Europe’s greatest talents. Schick insisted he had put the Juventus chaos behind him.
– I do not want to talk about it. That’s football. “I am not disappointed and am absolutely happy to be here,” Schick said after spending a month in Rome.
The Czech was far from meeting expectations. Injuries contributed to a troubled start. He was far behind the experienced star striker Edin Dzeko in the queue, and was partly used in an unfamiliar role on the edge.
– DOWN: Patrik Schick was a real disappointment in Rome. Here with star striker Edin Dzeko. Photo: Max Rossi
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In two seasons, it was with poor eight goals in 58 games.
– It is terribly weak for a striker. He had very high expectations attached to him, but it just never worked in any way, says Finstad Berg.
After a year and a half in Rome, he started working with a mental trainer. The journey continued to Germany, a loan stay with the resourceful club RB Leipzig.
Things went better there. Schick delivered ten goals in 15 starts and seven innings in the Bundesliga, despite struggling with injuries at the start of his stay.
Patrik Schick
Age: 25 years
International matches / goals: 30/15
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Previous clubs: Sparta Prague, Bohemians 1905 (loan), Sampdoria, Roma, RB Leipzig (loan).
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This led to a permanent transition to Bayer Leverkusen. The debut season was approved with nine goals in 29 games in the Bundesliga.
– It is far better than in Rome, but it would not be so much heaven either, then. But he has made things better in the Bundesliga. And what I think is positive to see is that he has been very good in the European Championships, says Finstad Berg.
Premier League clubs are warned
There he has shown why he was hailed as one of Europe’s hottest top talents.
With four goals, only Cristiano Ronaldo is ahead of him on the top scorer list. Against Scotland, he scored from midfield, more specifically 45.5 meters. No one has scored from a long distance in the history of the European Championships.
This is how it went when the TV 2 profile was to try its hand at Schick’s super goal …
But despite the fact that Schick has played great, not everyone is convinced.
“Chelsea and Arsenal, beware: Patrik Schick is not the striker you think he is,” writes The Times columnist Jonathan Northcroft.
He has used various statistics when he argues that Schick’s many goals in the European Championships are above expectations, and also points out that the numbers from the last seasons in club football are not exactly frightening.
Finstad Berg can buy it, and points out that the financially best purchases rarely happen right after a championship.
– Maybe I wanted to look at it a little. Now he has a good championship, and I treat him very well. He is 25 years old and will have the very best years ahead of him. If he can stabilize in Germany, in addition to having a good championship, he may be about to get the career many thought he would get – only four or five years later than we thought, she considers.
Then it remains to be seen if the sometimes forgotten super talent Patrik Schick can surpass Cristiano Ronaldo and shoot the Czech Republic for a sensational trophy.
The first obstacle is Denmark in the quarterfinals. You can watch that match on TV 2 and TV 2 Play at 17.25 Saturday.
Sources: The Times, The Guardian, Bundesliga.com, Reporter Magazine, Gazzetta dello Sport, Football Italia, Transfermarkt and WhoScored.com.
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