Dortmund to be patient with Amini

8 julio 2012 17:16

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has played down comparisons between new Australian signing Mustafa Amini and Shinji Kagawa.

The Bundesliga champions signed Amini on a four-year contract from Central Coast Mariners 12 months ago but immediately loaned the attacking midfielder back to the A-League outfit for a year.

However, with Kagawa having departed for Manchester United during the offseason, the Young Socceroo is now being viewed as a direct replacement for the Japan international, although Zorc finds such talk unhelpful.

"Putting such a burden on a young player's shoulders does nothing for them," the former Dortmund midfielder told Reviersport.

"We will give the necessary amount of time to Amini, and show the patience you must have with young players."

Meanwhile, the 19-year-old joins compatriot and goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak at the club and is well aware he will require plenty of time to adapt to his new surroundings.

"Germany is a whole new world for me," said Amini, who earned a call-up to Holger Osieck's Australian national team training camp in 2011 after impressing during his trial at Dortmund.

"I want to learn as much as I can and become a better player."

Amini is considered one of the most exciting young players Australia has produced since Harry Kewell.