Who is Dominik Szoboszlai? The RB Leipzig star previously wanted by Arsenal, Bayern and Real Madrid

Martin Macdonald

21 Oct 2021 07:42 CDT
6 min read

Dominik Szoboszlai, RB Leipzig — © ProShots

One of the most exciting young players in the world at the moment is RB Leipzig attacking midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.

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The Hungarian impressed for RB Salzburg to the point where he became a wanted man by a host of elite clubs around Europe.

In the end, it was RB Salzburg's associated club Leipzig who won the race for his signature with a €20 million transfer which was finalised in January of 2021.

It seems like Szoboszlai has the world at his feet, so what kind of player is he?

What position does Dominik Szoboszlai play in?

Szoboszlai is deployed as an attacking midfielder, usually on the left-hand side. However, he is equally as adept at playing through the centre either in the number 10 role or slightly deeper.

How good is Dominik Szoboszlai?

At the age of 20, Szoboszlai is already the most expensive Hungarian player in history following the move from RB Salzburg.

Szoboszlai is the latest in a growing and proven production line from RB Salzburg, having caught the eye in the Champions League with goals against Lokomotiv Moscow and Atletico Madrid.

It is, however, in assists that the player typically specialised in. In his last 66 starts in all competitions, he has recorded 23 assists.

With prodigious offensive figures and hailing from a side specialising in breeding top prospects, it is little wonder, then, that he became a wanted player.

He is not the type of wideman who gets many crosses into the box. Instead, he prefers to engage in a short passing game, coming off his wing to pick holes through the centre of the defence.

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He likes to drift into wide areas and pick the ball up between the midfield and attack, making him hard to police.

“He’s a tall, languid, classy talent who is adept behind the striker or as a deep-lying midfielder,” journalist Tomaz Mortimer wrote in the Guardian.

“He has almost Toni Kroos-like qualities – brilliant ball-striking ability with both feet, a great range of passing, beautiful balance and a really high footballing IQ.”

Szoboszlai himself has also referred to the comparisons with Kroos, telling Goal:

“A lot of people say that my style of play is close to Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Toni Kroos. It is a great thing to hear that."

What clubs are interested in Dominik Szoboszlai?

While at Salburg, Szoboszlai was linked to Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Juventus and Napoli due to his sparkling performances.

At the time when Leipzig eventually confirmed his signature, it is believed that Arsenal were their main rivals for that transfer.

Mikel Arteta made the Hungarian a priority, but it would be Leizpig that would be his next destination.

Arsenal, like all of the other clubs mentioned above, still retain an interest in the player but he has only made a handful of appearances for his new club so another transfer anytime soon is unlikely.