RB Leipzig's Rocco Reitz eyes Germany call-up
Rocco Reitz is aiming high after joining RB Leipzig from Borussia Mönchengladbach over the summer.
Reitz has UEFA Champions League football to look forward to at Leipzig, who finished third in the Bundesliga last season, but his ambitions go beyond playing in Europe.
"We don't just want to play in the Champions League for one year – we want to stay there," the midfielder told media from Die Roten Bullen's pre-season training camp on 21 July. "And I'd like to go as far as possible in the DFB Cup, maybe even play in the final someday."
Reitz also outlined some of his personal targets, having never scored more than six Bundesliga goals in a single season and having only represented Germany at youth level, most recently in the UEFA EURO U21 2025 final defeat to England.
"I want to score as many goals as possible, even though the team's success comes first," the 24-year-old said. "And I think everyone's goal is to play for the national team at some point. That's on my list, too."
Reitz is viewed as a long-term replacement for Xaver Schlager, who opted against renewing his contract with Leipzig at the end of the 2025/26 season.
The Duisburg native could make his competitive debut for his new club in the DFB Cup first-round meeting with Eintracht Trier on 22 August. A reunion with former employers Gladbach follows a week later on Bundesliga Matchday 1.
"It definitely made me smile a little, but I'm really looking forward to it," Reitz reflected on the fixture-list twist of fate. "Especially to seeing the guys, because I didn't really get to say goodbye to everyone."
