Niko Kovač was not trying to hide his excitement. After Samuele Inácio helped himself to another goal in Borussia Dortmund's 3-2 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 33, the Dortmund manager spoke about his young Italian forward with the kind of enthusiasm that suggests something special is developing at the Signal Iduna Park.
"The boy has shown today and in recent games that he wants it," Kovač said after the match. "He fights. He works hard off the ball. And he can do a lot with the ball — he has already created many chances in recent games. I am very happy with him."
The words of a satisfied manager, certainly. But Kovač went further — much further. He suggested openly that Inácio could be the long-term solution to one of Dortmund's most pressing issues heading into next season: "This could — even if only in quotation marks for now — perhaps become Jule's replacement somewhere."
The departure of Julian Brandt at the end of the season has been confirmed, leaving a significant creative void in Dortmund's attacking midfield. Brandt has been one of the most technically gifted players in the Bundesliga for years — and finding a replacement of that quality is no simple task. The fact that Kovač is already looking at a teenager to fill those boots speaks to how highly the club rates Inácio.
The Italy U19 international joined Dortmund from Atalanta during the summer of 2024, arriving relatively under the radar. His six appearances this campaign have been marked by intelligent movement, excellent technique, and — crucially — a composure in front of goal that belies his age.
Dortmund travel to Werder Bremen on the final matchday, and Inácio is likely to feature again. One more strong performance and his place in Kovač's plans for 2026/27 will be all but confirmed.
