Mustafa Amini: Borussia Dortmund's Dormant Genius

Another week and another missed opportunity for Borussia Dortmund's Australian defensive midfielder Mustafa Amini, 21, who continues to be left out in the cold. 

Amini faces the likelihood of finishing his Borussia Dortmund contract without ever starting a Bundesliga game. 

He is Borussia Dortmund's dormant genius. 

Earmarked For Greatness

Then-Central Coast Mariners manager Lawrie McKinna was instrumental in signing Amini before he was swayed by the advances of a European team, a la Massimo Luongo. 

"We saw [Amini] when he played against our boys at Seymour Shaw, it was a draw and we had a very strong team out that day but he was outstanding," McKinna said, per CCMariners.com.au. "He dictated play and made things happen." 

Five years ago, Julia Gillard was still scheming on how to push Kevin Rudd out of The Lodge, Angus and Julia Stone had yet to release the song Big Jet Plane, Tara Rushton was earning her stripes on Unseen TV, and Amini was an unwitting 16-year-old acclimatising to professional football.

"Liverpool's Steven Gerrard is my favourite player. I also look up to Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill," Amini said, per Peter Kogoy at The Australian. "I like to play anywhere on the field, but my best position is as a [central] attacking midfielder. I'm going to the Mariners to further my footballing education."

Matt Roberts/Getty Images

When Amini started playing for the Central Coast Mariners, his extraordinary passing ability was illuminating to then-Football Federation Australia technical director Han Berger.

"[Amini] has a fantastic first touch, great awareness, he can play the killer pass. Those players are very rare in general, especially in Australia," Berger said, per John Davidson at Inside Sport. "He has a great future if he makes the right choices."

Intrigued at the diminutive red-haired Australian maestro, Borussia Dortmund entered into negotiations with Central Coast Mariners, but the A-League club refused to be pushovers.

Frustrated at Central Coast Mariners' stonewall tactics, Borussia Dortmund said thanks, but no thanks, per John Taylor at The Sunday Telegraph (h/t Fox Sports).

Forty-five days later, the Central Coast Mariners relented and finally agreed to sell Amini's playing rights to Borussia Dortmund, but retained him on loan. 

"All my dreams are coming true," Amini said, per News.com.au. "My friends are doing their [higher school certificate], but I'm playing football in the A-League and heading to Germany."

Idealism vs. Realism

The draw of playing for Borussia Dortmund II isn't to dominate the 3. Liga, but to play for Jurgen Klopp's first team. 

Klopp has used Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Ilkay Gundogan, Matthias Ginter, Milos Jojic, Nuri Sahin, Oliver Kirch, Sebastian Kehl and Sven Bender in Borussia Dortmund's midfield.

Borussia Dortmund have less points (19) than games played (20) in the Bundesliga, so if Klopp is not going to give Amini a run when the team is so dire, he may never receive a chance.

Idealism: Klopp views Amini as a future Borussia Dortmund starting midfielder. 

Realism: Borussia Dortmund see Amini as a tweener. Not ready to play in the Bundesliga, but possesses the quality to help Borussia Dortmund II stay in the 3. Liga.

Remember, Amini is also in a relegation struggle, since David Wagner's Borussia Dortmund II have only accumulated 22 points from 23 games.

Credit: instagram.com/mustafaamini.

Reality Check

Amini, Jonas Hofmann, Kerem Demirbay, Leonardo Bittencourt, Marvin Bakalorz and Mitchell Langerak.

What is the link between the aforementioned players?

The six footballers played for Borussia Dortmund II in a 1-1 draw against the Stuttgarter Kickers on September 16, 2012.

What is the point of difference? Amini has yet to feature in the Bundesliga.

"It's not easy here in Germany and if I get my chance for Australia, hopefully people will see how far I have progressed," Amini said, per David Lewis at SBS. "Everybody thinks, 'ah he's only playing in Dortmund's second team in Germany's third tier' and maybe they shrug their shoulders."

Evidently, Amini reads too much social media—avoid doing a Robert Griffin III.

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Here is the point Amini is probably trying to make.

The 3. Liga—German equivalent of League One, the level Luongo is playing at for Swindon Town—has been a stepping stone for three Bundesliga stars.

• Bernd Leno (Stuttgart II): One of the best young goalkeepers in Europe's elite leagues for Bayer Leverkusen.
• Hakan Calhanoglu (Karlsruher SC): A world-class set-piece taker for Bayer Leverkusen.
• Max Kruse (Werder Bremen II): Forms a dynamic partnership with Raffael for Borussia Monchengladbach.

The criticism of Amini playing in the 3. Liga isn't primarily to do with the competition's quality.

Rather, Amini's development would have been better suited playing in the Belgian Pro League (Mathew Ryan; Club Brugge) or the Eredivisie (Tommy Oar; Utrecht).

The sad reality is, Borussia Dortmund almost certainly won't be able to see Amini put an Australian touch on being little Mozart.

+allanjiang.

When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com.