The career of Armel Bella-Kotchap has run little by plan since the World Cup in Qatar. With Southampton, the German is now experiencing a record descent. However, he does not play a major role in doing so – because of a fateful medical check.
In the winter of 2022, Armel Bella-Kotchap was still part of the World Cup contingent of the German national team in Qatar, the following summer even Bavaria and BVB wanted the promising youngster. However, this went on a loan for one season after Eindhoven.
Since then, the now 23-year-old, who had moved from VfL Bochum to England for twelve million euros in 2022, has been little.
Seven game days before the end of the season, Bella-Kotchap relegated from the Premier League with his regular club FC Southampton. After 31 games, the team, which the central defender mostly had to watch from the bank or grandstand, has ten points on the account.
The 1: 3 on Sunday against Tottenham finally sealed the return to the second class. A relegation in the Premier League was never before so early.
Bella-Kotchap wants to take the next step
It is rather unlikely whether the German international (two international matches) go into the second class.
“I think I’m not finished with my development yet. I have other goals that I strive,” he recently emphasized in the podcast kicker meets . He wanted to take further steps, “I don’t know whether that will be in England. I am open”. His contract runs until 2026.
At first glance, it is also worrying that the German central defender did not get enough game practice in the worst squad of the Premier League. Bella-Kotchap only completed four missions (four defeats) at the Saints in the league. For a long time he didn’t even belong to the squad, but there is an explanation for that.
Brisant report has serious consequences
The truth is that the ex-Bochum was actually already on the go to Hoffenheim in August. But then he suddenly fell through the medical check, afterwards a serious report of alleged heart problems came to the public.
In December, Bella-Kotchap was irritated by Bella- Kotchap : “I came to Hoffenheim and medical check. In Southampton, I only measured an increased pulse of the pulse during training, which, however, had nothing to do with a structural heart problem.”
After returning to England, he did a lot of tests, and something was never found. Nevertheless, the unclear information situation in summer is likely to have put on other interested parties.
“The overall situation has harmed a potential change,” was also Bella-Kotchap, who instead had to go back to Southampton, where you had no need for him anymore.
“The employee had to leave the club”
Afterwards, he learned how the reports of supposed heart problems came to the public: “I was informed of the club’s side that a TSG employee is said to have given this conscience outside. The employee in question now had to leave the club.”
After two epidemics – even in the previous season 2023/24 ran to Eredivisie -Club PSV Eindhoven, a lot of wrong (lengthy shoulder injury) – should finally go uphill for Bella -Kotchap.
A fresh start outside of Southampton seems sensible.