Manchester United have signed Bayern Munich midfielder Marcel Sabitzer on loan until the end of the season in a late Deadline Day move. There is no option to buy the Austria International. Injuries to Christian Eriksen, Scott McTominay and Donny van de Beek have intensified the need for a midfielder leading to the loan move.
Marcel Sabitzer will earn approximately £ 110 000 a week and will earn a gross salary of £ 572 0000 over 2022/23 season.
Personal Information
Marcel Sabitzer was born on 17 March 1994 in Wels, Austria. The twenty-eight-year-old is 1.78m tall. Marcel is predominantly right footed.
Positions and playing style.
Sabitzer’s main position is playing as a central midfielder but has also been played as a defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder on the right side and as a second striker. Marcel Sabitzer’s strengths include:
- Long shots- Likes to shoot from distance
- Passing- plays the ball off the ground
- Direct free-kicks
- Key passes.
- Does not dive into tackles
Marcel Sabitzer’s weaknesses include:
- Aerial Duels
Youth and senior career.
Admira Wacker
Marcel Sabitzer played for Admira Villach, Grazer AK, 1 Wiener Neustädter SC and Austria Wein before joining Admira Wacker’s youth Academy in July 2009. Admira Wacker gave him his first senior contract playing fifty-two games scoring ten goals and providing eight assists.
Rapid Vienna
The Austrian moved to Rapid Vienna from the 2012/13 season to 2013/14 playing 57 games scoring twelve goals and providing eight assists. He played as a left-winger, Centre forward and right-winger with a few performances as a second striker.
RB Leipzig
On 30 May 2014 Marcel signed a four year contract with RB Leipzig and was loaned for a season to FC Red Bull Salzburg. At Salzburg Sabitzer had one of his most productive periods playing in forward positions making fifty-one appearances in the Austrian Bundesliga, Austrian League Cup, Champions League qualification and Europa League. In his fifty-one appearances he bagged twenty-seven goals and twenty-one assists playing across the front line with more success in the centre-forward position and as a left winger.
In the 2015 season he was recalled by RB Leipzig where he has played until 2021. He has made two-hundred and twenty nine appearances scoring fifty-two times and providing 42 assists playing across the front three and in midfield. He became a regular in the team attracting the attention of Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich
On 30 August 2021 Sabitzer signed a four-year contract with Bayern Munich for a reported €16 million. He has played for Bayern Munich fifty-four times in the Bundesliga, Champions League, DFB-Pokal and Champions League. Unlike previous clubs Sabitzer has played in central Midfield at Bayern which has cut his goals and assists significantly. He has only scored two goals and provided two assists so far at the Bavarians.
Sabitzer’s major honours
At Reb Bull Salzburg he won:
- Austrian Bundesliga 2014-15
- Austrian Cup 2014-15
RB Leipzig
- Austrian Footballer of the Year:2017
- UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season :2019-20
- Bundesliga Team of the season: 2019-20
- Kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season 2019-20
Bayern Munich
- Bundesliga 2021-22
- DFL Supercup 2022
Marcel's comments on signing loan
Marcel Sabitzer was very excited about joining Manchester United and meeting up with Erik Ten Hag and his teammates. He said that once he heard of the interest of the Red Devils he knew it was the right move for him. Marcel is eager to join the club and compete for his position in the squad. The Austrian wants to help the its goals this season.
Football pundits, ex-players and journalists’ comments on Sabitzer
Melissa Reddy (Sky Sports News Reporter)
Melissa Reddy started by saying Manchester United’s initial interest was in Marcel Sabitzer’s Bayern Munich team-mate Ryan Gravenberch. Gravenberch and Ten Hag were together at Ajax, and the Manchester United coach could give the player time on the pitch. Unfortunately Gravenberch declined the move opting to stay at Bayern Munich and fight for his place in the squad.
Manchester United were forced to look for a midfielder after Christian Eriksen’s injury situation. Reddy commented that Sabitzer is a clever acquisition to the squad as he offers versatility in the positions similar to Eriksen. As a player he is comfortable with both feet, he has good forward vision and has good defensive attributes.
Paul Merson ( Former Arsenal, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa Player)
Paul Merson does not believe Marcel Sabitzer is the answer for Manchester United. Merson believes circumstances pushed the Red Devils into signing Sabitzer.
Uli Kohler (Sky Germany Reporter)
Uli Kohler believes that Marcel is a good player after his importance to Leipzig beform Bayern Move. The player is also important for the Austrian National team. He however has reservations about whether he can fill the boots of Eriksen.
