Potential Celtic signing Moritz Jenz insists he's very much the modern centre-back. And he revealed his two footballing heroes are Jerome Boateng and Leonardo Bonucci.
The Lorient defender has emerged as a target for Ange Postecoglou and he looks set to join the Scottish Premiership champions on-loan for next season. Jenz signed a five-year deal with the Ligue 1 club only last season but his move to Britanny has proven a difficult one amid the club's battle with relegation - they narrowly escaped the drop in 2021/22 and are looking to reset again for the upcoming campaign.
Lorient now look prepared to ship the 23-year-old out for next term and multiple reports indicate Celtic are interested. And his previous comments suggest he'll be an ideal fit in Postecoglou's high-pressing, possession-based style of football. Jenz says there's nothing old-fashioned about his game - he sees himself as the first line of his side's attack - and it's one he models on German World Cup winner Boateng and Juventus hero Bonucci.
Jenz said: "I don't see myself as a classic central defender who tries to ruin the game. I see myself more as the first line of attack and a player who builds up play. I love having the game in front of me, dictating what pace we go at. I also try to learn a lot from my role models Jerome Boateng and Leonardo Bonucci.
"Of course, I would love a career as good as either of them, but football isn't about aspirations, it's about creating and fulfilling a dream. In football, it's like in real life. If you're convinced of something, then try to be the best at it and do your thing, even if others want to stop you from doing it."
And Jenz admits he isn't your typical young player - he has campaigned tirelessly for marine conservation. He explained: "It might sound a bit odd, but I'm not interested in material things. When I got my first salary, I didn't buy an expensive watch or anything like that. The money stays in my account for the difficult times ahead.
"I also love visiting museums. It doesn't matter whether it's a historical museum or an art museum, somehow it calms me down and inspires me at the same time. I'm passionate about ocean conservation. Everyone has the same responsibility for a clean world. On holiday once, I saw what happens when animals come into contact with plastic.
"It is therefore my duty to draw attention to the dangers of microplastics, for example via Instagram. I know I can't make the world a better place on my own, but when five people are more aware of themselves and the environment, then I've already achieved a lot."
Jenz has already had experience of British-style football after a five-year stint at Fulham as a youngster and he admitted it toughened him up. He recalled: "I thought Berlin was tough, but it was nothing like London. The training was hard, not in terms of intensity, but in terms of physicality.
"My teammates showed me that they didn't like it that a German took their place away from them. If there's one thing I learned in England, it was not to put up with anything and to show toughness in the game. Overall, my time at Fulham was brilliant. I made enormous progress both personally and athletically. For me, Fulham is a great club and I hope to be able to play for this club again in the Premier League at some point."
And Jenz has unusual ways of keeping himself sharp and on top of his game. He insisted: "Being a professional footballer means not only being able to use the ball well, but also being mentally ready for it. I always thought things like meditation or mental training were very silly, but now I realise how good they are for me. I'm convinced that as a footballer you can only perform at your best if you also allow your body to rest."
