RB Leipzig establishes RBL Cup to develop academy players

RB Leipzig is launching the RBL Cup to enhance competitive match opportunities for their academy players, aiming for more of them to transition to professional football. The tournament will feature international U21 teams from FC Red Bull Salzburg, Paris FC, and FC Utrecht, with matches set to include top clubs like Atlético Madrid and Liverpool FC. David Wagner, Head of Youth Development, highlighted the importance of playing more competitive games, stating that it could equate to three additional years of development. With over 45 competitive matches planned for the U19 team next season, the inaugural RBL Cup is expected to help young talents adapt to higher intensity gameplay. The first matches of the tournament will occur at Cottaweg, helping alleviate previous travel needs for academy teams.

• 9:36 AMYahoo Sports — RBL Cup providing more competitive games for academy players