The United States left-back is likely to make his debut in Bundesliga for Arminia Bielefeld against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday.
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United States footballers like Gio Reyna and Ricardo Pepi have risen their stature with their participation and display in the Bundesliga. And American left-back George Bello could well follow the suit. He was signed by Bundesliga club Arminia Bielefeld from Atlanta United for a four-and-a-half year contract and could well make his debut against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday. He also feels that the world is getting to know that American players can develop themselves at a young age due to the intense competition in the German league, which is one of the strongest in the world.
“It’s quite the trend. Word is getting around that many Americans are developing well here in Germany,” Bello told German sports specialist magazine, kicker, of his transatlantic switch.
“There’s a lot of competition in the league and within the teams, so you can really improve here. Of course, I want to get better here, in one of the strongest leagues in the world. It’s always been my dream to play in Europe, and I’m here to make my dream come true.”
Bello has closely followed big names like Marco Reus, Serge Gnabry and Robert Lewandowski before joining the league and has largely mulled on the subject of playing in the same competition as them. Two-time FIFA BEST men’s player and Bayern Munich star Lewandowski is capable of improving himself furthermore and breaking his own single-season Bundesliga record.
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The Polish striker scored 41 times across the 2020/21 campaign to best a record, set by the late Gerd Muller, that had stood for 49 years. He also leads the tally of most goals in the German league with 23 goals in 22 fixtures in the ongoing 2021-22 season which is one less than his tally from the previous season after the same number of matches.
“And my compatriots, of course. [Chris] Richards, Pepi, [Gio] Reyna. That will be cool,” he added, ahead of a possible head-to-head with Gladbach’s American teen, Joe Scally, on Bundesliga Matchday 21.
Bello has made six international appearances. He admits that since the quality of play is higher in the German league, he would have to improve himself and it will help him to do better.
“It’s a much higher speed together with a much higher quality of players,” observed Bello of the difference between US soccer and his first week of training under Arminia head coach Frank Kramer. “They just think and play much faster here, but I feel good and I’m fit to start. If the coach wants me or needs me, I’ll be there.”
