Said El Mala may not be on the plane to the World Cup, but Julian Nagelsmann made one thing clear this week: the 1. FC Köln talent is not forgotten. The Germany coach went out of his way to praise the youngster publicly, calling him a "super Typ" and emphasising that his exclusion is about timing, not talent. For a club whose identity is built on developing players, this is the kind of recognition that matters. Köln supporters know the pattern: a young player breaks through, catches the national team's eye, and eventually gets his chance. Nagelsmann's words suggest El Mala is following that exact trajectory.
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