Feature: Hamburg's 17-year-old wonder boy Arp needs permission for "night shifts"

By Oliver Trust

BERLIN, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- High school student Jann-Fiete Arp is living the fairytale millions of young footballers around the world are dreaming of. At the age of 17, the striker stands for his club's hope to avoid relegation in the Bundesliga but at the same time needs special permission to "work" after eight o'clock in the evening.

To address German youth protection laws, the 1983 German champion had to apply for special permission for Friday's 14th round of matches in the Bundesliga against SC Freiburg as kick-off is scheduled for 8:30 pm.

Youngsters below an age of 18 are only allowed to attend performances such as in theatres or music shows in evenings. Authorities said they regard a football game as a performance like an event.

After two goals in his first three games, the big clubs in Europe already have an eye on the Hamburger SV youngster, like 2017 German champion Bayern Munich and the English Premier League sides such as Manchester City, FC Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea FC.

Reports said English clubs spotted Arp playing for the German U17 junior national team at the U17 World Cup last October in India, scoring five goals in as many games. Arp so far scored 18 goals in 19 games for the German youngsters' team.

Arp made his debut in Hamburg's professional team on Sept. 30 against Werder Bremen (0-0) and scored against Hertha BSC (1-2) and VfB Stuttgart (3-1). The Stuttgart game was his first appearance in the starting eleven.

This week Hamburg coach Markus Gisdol and Arp's management denied rumors of a contract with Chelsea for summer 2018-2019. Arp's contract with the HSV is running until 2019, and the club said to try to extend it.

Due to Hamburg's financial problems, rumors are growing that the 1983 winner of the European Cup can only gain a substantial transfer fee by selling Arp in summer 2018.

Arp's manager, the former Hamburg striker Juergen Milewski, said no contract had been signed with an English side yet, and Arp recently rejected an offer from Hamburger SV.

"A lot of new things happened in the last months. Fiete is still a young man who needs to get along with the growing interest. We intend to do things very slowly and carefully discuss his future," said Milewski.

Still attending high school, Arp is on his way to graduation next summer.

"The hype around me is growing and scary at times. But I try to concentrate on the things that are important for me," Arp told German media.

"The goal against Stuttgart was like an explosion delivering great relieve for all, the fans and the team. But I still need to improve in every single training session. It doesn't help to follow all the things that currently happen around me. It helps to stay tuned regarding hard work in football," Arp said.

Meanwhile, his club announced Arp will not give any more interviews. "We need to protect him," Hamburg's sports director Jens Todt said.

Arp stands for what in Germany is called a "Vollblutstürmer," meaning a specially gifted forward providing speed and a strong will to score at any time without hesitation.

"Everyone can see his special talent, but he is dealing very well with all the hurly-burly around him," HSV director Todt said, "we will try everything to keep him in Hamburg, but we know it will be a tough job." Enditem