Marcus Thuram used to love using Marco Reus in FIFA 09 when the Borussia Dortmund captain was still at Borussia Mönchengladbach, but that’s not why he joined the Foals from Guingamp this summer…

Thuram, the son of French World Cup winner Lilian, has made a quick impression with Gladbach, scoring the winner against Sandhausen on his debut in the DFB Cup first round two weeks ago before making his Bundesliga debut in the goalless draw with Schalke last Sunday.

Born in Italy when his father played for Parma, France U21 international Thuram could also have played for Guadeloupe, but it wasn’t until his early teens that he discovered Gladbach thanks to FIFA, the video game for which Reus would later become the cover star.

"It was 2009. When I played FIFA on the PlayStation, I chose Borussia. I loved Marco Reus," Thuram Jr., now 22, explained to SportBild.

"He’s an extremely good player, even as a character on a video game console. Even then, he was really good and fast, and I liked his Mohawk hairstyle."

Reus (c.) spent three seasons at Gladbach, before moving to Dortmund in summer 2012. - imago sportfotodienst

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Thuram could play against Reus when Gladbach travel to Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park on Matchday 8. The Foals’ own stadium – the Borussia Park – helped Thuram make his decision to join, his earlier FIFA habit notwithstanding.

"I like superheroes and their films," he said. "The first time I came here it was night-time. The Borussia Park and surrounding area were lit up in green. It felt like the Green Lantern.

"It was really cool and I felt right at home. It sounds crazy, but I liked the atmosphere immediately."

Thuram will next have the chance to prove he can be the fans’ latest superhero on Saturday, when Gladbach travel to Rhine rivals Mainz.

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Borussia Mönchengladbach

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