Bayer’s Nathan Tella is not only eager to learn, but also flexible. In the future, he could be useful in a position that is actually rather foreign to him. It remains to be seen whether he will be involved in the Africa Cup
The fact that he had become Leverkusen’s most expensive new summer signing in 2023, he emphasized right at the beginning, does not bother him. “I didn’t ask to be paid that much for me. It has nothing to do with me,” explained Nathan Tella, who manager Simon Rolfes and Co. brought in from Southampton FC for just under €20 million. “They believe I’m worth it.” Now he had to prove it. Shortly after his arrival, Tella reported: “I have to learn even better how Xabi Alonso wants to see the team and me play, whether as a striker or as a full-back.”
The attacking player as a full-back? That was enough to make anyone prick up their ears. Tella, a late starter at the age of 24, explained at the time: “I’m a striker. Last season I had my best season as a right winger, but I come into a team that works very well and plays with five defenders in defense.” That’s why he can’t say “that I want to play as a winger, because that position doesn’t exist for me.”
Striker Tella is also called upon as a full-back
In the 3-4-3, which the Werkself have resorted to in the vast majority of cases so far, there are the wing-backs instead – as well as the two half-backs in the front row, which Tella has often occupied in his 16 competitive appearances (seven times in the starting eleven, two goals, one assist) in the Bundesliga and in the cup competitions. He often played on the half-right, sometimes on the half-left and was deployed in a 4-2-3-1 on both the right and left wing. However, Tella also played as a right wing-back – a few times in brief appearances in the league, most recently in the Europa League against Molde FK (5:1) in mid-December. Whereby this appearance was certainly the most meaningful
This time, Tella did not come on for the final offensive when the score was clear and only played a few minutes, but instead played from start to finish. He interpreted his role in a similar way to Jeremie Frimpong, who usually plays on the right wing: In his own possession, Tella pushed forward, tying up the left full-back and trying to break through towards the baseline at speed or move into the middle in search of a finish. Meanwhile, he completed the five-man line when the opponent was in possession. And filled this rather unfamiliar role satisfactorily, at least against this inferior opponent.
Xabi Alonso with extra praise for Bayer’s new signing Tella
“Nathan is playing abroad for the first time, he’s adapting, always has a good attitude and that quality one-on-one,” said the Basque. “This time he had to play more as a wing-back and defend more than, for example, at Southampton as a winger. I said to him: Here you have a new task and you can prove that you can do it. He had to adapt to this position in the first five or seven minutes, but after that he did well.” From this point on, Tella showed that he could at least be an option on the right wing.
Frimpong is admittedly the top dog there. But Tella could be an interesting alternative in this position over the course of the season, when game after game follows and Xabi Alonso wants to give his frequent player a break. Especially as Arthur is still out due to a muscle tendon injury in his right thigh. However, it remains to be seen whether Tella – which Leverkusen are at least quietly hoping – will be available from the turn of the year or whether he will be called up to Nigeria’s squad for the Africa Cup.
Tella is proving to be a very inquisitive professional
In this case, he would initially be missing. Either way, it became clear in his very first six months at Bayer: Tella, who scored 17 goals in the Championship during his loan spell at Burnley FC in 2022/23, still needs to mature and become more stable and effective, but already offers the Werkself several options. And is proving to be a very inquisitive professional. He made it clear after his move to the current league leaders: “Many players have gone on to great careers from here. When I heard about Leverkusen’s interest, I said to myself: this is the place I want to go.” To learn and grow. In whatever position
