His versatility is at the same time his problem at Arminia: Usable everywhere, but in no position clearly up front is Nathan de Medina there. But the Belgian takes it sportingly and shows professionalism.
He is actually doing really well at the Teutoburger Wald. “When I first moved abroad, I didn’t expect everything to be as perfectly organised as it is here,” enthuses Nathan de Medina, who switched to Arminia last season from current Belgian second-division club Royal Excel Mouscron. “With my girlfriend and with my dog, you can feel very comfortable in Bielefeld.” What applies privately also applies in principle to the sporting side of things. “I have nice colleagues around me here. But of course, somehow everything still depends on whether I play or not.”
These days, when other foreigners in the Bundesliga are playing international matches with their home teams, the 24-year-old finds it a little harder to stay in East Westphalia. So far, he has rarely been a first-choice player there. Nevertheless, he has played a total of 21 games in the top flight, but only one from the start this season – in Bielefeld’s 1:3 in Mönchengladbach on matchday 4.
“I did a good job when I came on,” de Medina claims and the kicker mark of 3.0 confirms him. “I was happy that the coach could see that. I waited a long time for my chance. “
Versatile – but just not set in any position
It came because Amos Pieper, an important player who otherwise had the title of “set” in Bielefeld, had to miss out. When the centre-back returned fit after his ankle injury, de Medina had to make way again. Of course he was a little disappointed. However, “there are players that the coach counts on and the club knows how important they are,” he says, adding about himself: “There are always good games, but my ambition is to give everything and play well for the whole season. To play a good season – I have that goal, but am sitting out again now.”
The Belgian, who also has the nationality of the African island nation of Cape Verde, is regarded in Bielefeld as the ideal back-up in defence because he can in principle play all positions there, while being strong in two fights and robust. But as is often the case, this versatility is also a disadvantage, because de Medina is currently not the absolute number one in any position.
“I can help the team, also on the left or elsewhere. I am very versatile, but I also know myself what my best position is,” says the Brussels boy, who was born in the Etterbeek district of the Belgian metropolis and trained virtually next door at RSC Anderlecht. “My best position is on the right in central defence, that’s where I feel I can perform at my best. “
“My time will come “
By its very nature, de Medina does not like Arminia’s current position in the table either. “We have a good team. But when you see our situation, everyone knows it’s time to change some things. We have to keep our confidence.” Change things – that’s what he wants to help with. “When things are not going so well, as a reserve player you always have the hope to show that you can do better.”
His contract in Bielefeld still runs until 2023. He does not want to run away from there. “I’m not thinking about a premature transfer at all. Now is not the time to want to leave. It is better to remain as patient as I have always been,” he shows professionalism. “A change, even more so to a lower or weaker league would make no sense at all. At the Belgian federation they know me, of course, but for selection I have to play in a top league like the Bundesliga. The problem is: since I’ve been in Germany, I don’t play that often…”
And yet, said confidence is something Nathan de Medina also exemplifies personally when he says of his prospects at Arminia: “I’ve always done what I could do so far. My time will come, I believe that. “