Erik Maxim Choupo-Moting probably didn’t expect to start playing again at Bayern Munich. After the last two years he was just a stunt double for Superstar Robert Lewandowski was, he apparently wanted to leave the record of champions last summer.

Bayern expert Christian Falk tells the Bayern-Insider podcast that the 33-year-old has applied for a replacement and wanted to travel to Qatar. However, Bayern did not let him go.

Apparently, it was the right decision: the striker scored in the last two official matches against Freiburg and Augsburg, scoring three goals and making two assists. Choupo-Moting’s unexpected breakthrough is in line with his crazy and colorful career.

A faulty fax put his career in jeopardy

The striker grew up in Hamburg and made his Bundesliga debut for Hamburger SV in August 2007. At the time, HSV was still one of the best clubs in Germany and had stars like Ruud van Nistelrooy and Paolo Guerrero, so the young striker was rarely used.

Oddly enough, Choupo-Moting became famous throughout Germany because of a faulty fax machine. In January 2011, he was to be loaned out to 1. FC Köln. On the last day of the transfer window, all negotiating partners agreed. To make it official, the striker’s father faxed the signed contract to the DFL in Cologne.

The only problem was that the fax machine had a defect. Only after a few further attempts did the fax go through, but 14 minutes after the 6:00 pm transmission deadline. This made the transmission obsolete. Another option, to move to England, also failed. “We had already given up on West Bromwich, there was no other choice,” Father Choupo-Moting said at the time.

Result: Choupo-Moting had to stay in Hamburg but played no further role in HSV and was no longer used in the Bundesliga in the second half of the season. Being suddenly at a fork in the road can be a career threat for young players, but not at Choupo-Moting.

Six months later he was able to leave the club and became a regular at 1. FSV Mainz 05 and then FC Schalke 04 before moving to Stoke City in the English Premier League in the summer of 2017. Choupo-Moting looks back on that chapter today with mixed feelings.

“I love languages ​​and I enjoy gaining experience abroad and I have always wanted to play in the Premier League. The year was very fun – although, unfortunately, we were relegated, ”he said in an interview. Interview with “Spox.com”.

Choupo-Moting praises Neymar: ‘He’s a great guy’

After relegation, he joined the all-star ensemble Paris Saint-Germain and became friends with the world star. neymar on the. “There is a lot of talk about Neymar, but I never felt the star in him. He’s a super guy,” he told Sport-Bild.

After two seasons in which he didn’t progress beyond being a bench, he decided to leave. “Paris wanted to extend my stay, I was happy there. But I always thought about Germany, and also looked at the top clubs to see if there was a place for me there, ”he recalls.

Nagelsmann praises Choupo-Moting’s “attitude and character”

He was also a substitute at Bayern for two years before he benefited from the departure of Lewandowski. Trainer Julian Nagelsman Highly appreciates Choupo-Moting’s versatility: “He’s not exactly a classic nine, but he also carries a lot between the lanes. He is a gifted footballer, more than ten, who can also play in front. We are very glad that we have it. “

In addition, Choupo-Moting is a player who works both as a starter and as a substitute: “He is very ambitious. He has the qualities to be a starter. But he also has the qualities to come off the bench. you need one definite attitude and character for “.

Although he needed some time to start at Bayern as a footballer, he quickly matured as a person. Leon Goretzka and Leroy Sune he already knew this before moving to Munich. With Joshua Kimmich Serge Gnabry and ex-Bavaria star David Alaba, he found more friends.

“David and Serge, for example, also have interests similar to mine,” he once said. “They are very interested in fashion, art and also watch other sports like basketball. For example, my friend owns an art gallery and we found out that Serge knows him well too. These hobbies bring us closer.”

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fight against racism

Otherwise, the fight against racism is a matter of the heart of the father of two, who is married to his childhood sweetheart Nevina. “Let’s take a stand against any discrimination together” (German: “Let’s all take a stand against any discrimination together”) on his Instagram profile.

After the death of George Floyd, he took part in demonstrations in Hamburg. His position is: “Every action, every campaign against racism and discrimination is good and important. It’s sad that we still have to deal with it like this, but you can’t do it often enough.”

Used sources:

• FC Bayern Munich press conference with Julian Nagelsmann, 21 October 2022
• Bayern insider: this is how Kahn, Salihamidzic and Hainer are released from Uli Hoeneß
• spox.com: Like a PSG hero Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting stuck on HSV due to broken fax machine
• FC Bayern – Interview with Erik Maxim Choupo-Moting: “I ran home on Dragon Ball Z”
• sportbild.bild.de: “Paris wanted to extend my stay, I was happy there”