Real Madrid have allowed Adam Szalai to join Bundesliga outfit Mainz on loan until the end of the season.
Striker re-joins former coach in Germany
Real Madrid have allowed Adam Szalai to join Bundesliga outfit Mainz on loan until the end of the season.
The Spanish giants confirmed the deal on Saturday, keen for the 22-year-old frontman to gain regular first-team experience.
The Hungary international began his career in Germany with Stuttgart, but left before making the transition into the first-team fold.
He moved to Santiago Bernabeu in 2007 and has been part of the Castilla side at Real ever since.
Reports had suggested that Szalai was being tracked by a number of teams in England, with Notts County and Leeds among them.
However, Szalai has chosen to re-join Mainz manager Thomas Tuchel, who coached him when he was in charge of Stuttgart's youth team in 2004 after the player joined the Swabians from Ujpest Budapest.
Delighted
The 22-year-old is delighted to be re-joining his former coach, telling the club's
official website: "I have chosen Mainz because the club really tried hard to get me and I know the coach Thomas Tuchel from when I was at Stuttgart.
"I also see good perspectives for me and the club."
Tuchel added: "He is just the player we wanted in attack.
"He is versatile and can play as a target man, as a second striker or even behind the forwards."
