Winsley Boteli: Gladbach talent is the best U19 goalscorer in Germany

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Swiss players at Borussia Mönchengladbach have a long tradition. Altogether, 11 players have played or are playing for the Foals and have accumulated 1215 games. The current squad includes Jonas Omlin and Nico Elvedi, which means that number is only going to grow. But even beyond those two players, there is another interesting Swiss prospect currently active in the club’s academy: Winsley Boteli.

The 17-year-old striker is currently playing for the U19 and is on a direct path to break into the first team. Boteli left his hometown, Geneva, in the summer of 2022 and joined Gladbach from Servette. Once he arrived, he right away showed why Gladbach signed the forward: to score goals. The forward scored 11 goals in his first season with the U17 and then, after being promoted to the U19, quickly adapted to the higher level. Halfway through the season, Boteli has already scored 12 goals, the most of any player playing in any of the three U19 Bundesliga divisions. Then, in mid-November, Boteli made his debut for the U23 and scored a brace in the 3-1 win over Rot Weiss Ahlen.

“Winsley Boteli is a robust and athletic center-forward,” Transfermarkt community member and Gladbach fan felix_03 said. “It is difficult to regain possession from him once he gains control over the ball. His physical attributes and dynamic play are a huge advantage at the youth level where he dominates opponents.” But Boteli also has the ability to shield the ball with the back to the goal and is a perfect wall player. “He is always open,” felix_03 added. “Whether it is in midfield or in the box.” While his positioning is excellent, he still needs to work on his timing when it comes to breaking the line, and is too often caught offside. The striker also still needs to work on his first touch.

“My role model is Karim Benzema,” Boteli said to Transfermarkt. “His story and the way he plays football is a good fit. He has an incredible mentality and a fantastic career.” When asked about his goalscoring record, Boteli added: “I think I am performing well because I am working hard in training to be the best.” Gladbach’s head of the academy, Mirko Sandmöller, has also recently praised the player in an interview with the Rheinischen Post. “Winsley is doing well at the moment, has the quality, and is a dangerous player goalscorer,” Sandmöller said. “He is dangerous whenever he is close to the goal, always finds a good solution.” Sandmöller also stressed that the club is preparing him for first-team football. The newspaper also reported that the Bundesliga club will offer him a professional contract once he turns 18. Boleti’s development contract will run until 2025.

The Swiss youth international represented his country at the U17 European Championships and helped his country to a sixth-place finish. According to a report by Fabrizio Romano, Juventus and Everton have already scouted Boleti. But the striker sees his immediate future in Mönchengladbach. “Next year I want to break into the first team squad,” Boleti said. “I want to pay back the trust they put in me.” Right now, Gladbach’s Swiss head coach, Gerardo Seoane has forwards Tomas Cvancara, Alassane Plea, Jordan, and Grant-Leon Ranos available. A strong competition, but Boleti believes he can continue Gladbach’s Swiss tradition.

From December 1 to 24, we introduce new players from different countries born in 2006 and 2007. Area managers, users, and data scouts come into play as experts throughout the series. You can follow all those players by adding them to your TM watchlist.