Brighton and Hove Albion winger Brajan Gruda has admitted he joined RB Leipzig at the end of the January transfer window with the World Cup in mind.
Kicker cover comments from the midfielder today. He joined Leipzig late in the window in a surprise transfer that few would have seen coming.
The 21-year-old is spending the rest of the season with the Bundesliga side, however, the deal does not include an option for the Bundesliga side to buy him at the end of it.
The move was something of a surprising one given Brighton paid €31.5m to sign him in 2024. He’s never truly settled with the Seagulls, though. This season, for instance, he’s managed 18 appearances in the Premier League but just 896 minutes. That’s 33% of the available minutes.
That was clearly a defining factor for the winger. He admits he’s got his eye on the World Cup, and the move may just help that.
“I’d be lying if I said no,” he replied when asked if he had the tournament as his goal.
“I’ve always been in contact with RB. The club suits me, and so does their style of play.
“I can play centrally. I can play on the wing. The main thing is that I can help the team and regain my confidence. My goal is to help the team in their bid for Europe. And for myself, to get playing time.”
Some might question if he regrets the move to Brighton in the first place, given he’s yet to make the impact he envisioned.
Initially he joined Brighton as one of the most highly rated youngsters in Germany at the time but has manage just 45 appearances since. He has recorded four goals and eight assists.
Some would see that as a failure, but Gruda doesn’t. Instead, heinsists that there were plenty of benefits to it.
“Personally, it was very enriching,” he added.
“Living alone was new for me. I made the decision; I stuck with it – and I don’t regret a thing.”
For the future, Gruda has big plans, such as playing for a club like Liverpool or Bayern Munich.