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There were many reasons for Tiago Dantas to celebrate last week. On December 24, Christmas was not just around the corner for the Portuguese. The Bayern professional also celebrated his 20th birthday.
It is also likely that January 1 has a very special meaning. Because since then, the central midfielder is finally eligible to play for the professional team. He could already be on the team against Mainz, revealed head coach Hansi Flick at Saturday’s press conference. (Bundesliga: FC Bayern Munich – FSV Mainz 05 from 6 pm on LIVETICKER)
“It always depends on a player if he plays or not and how far he develops. We have a good team, with good depth. It is important that he shows his quality in each training, the coaching staff and also his teammates” said Flick up SPORT1-Demand.
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At the early October deadline, the Munich team introduced the youngster as a new addition, but he was no longer able to sign up for the Bundesliga, the Cup and the Champions League. But now Dantas can and wants to take off.
Dantas is eligible to play for Bayern
The record champions have loaned Benfica Lisbon’s talent for a year, and there is a 7.5 million purchase option in the summer of 2021. Whether Bayern is interested in doing so depends on performance in the coming months.
That Flick is well disposed towards him is certain even before his first mission. Because the transfer of the young man was carried out mainly at the express request of the triple coach.
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Flick has had the 20-year-old in his sights for years. According to information from SPORT1 The contact between the two parties came a few years ago through José Boto, who currently works as head of scout in Shakhtar Donetsk. The Portuguese worked for Benfica from 2010 to 2018, Flick primarily as an assistant coach and sports director at the DFB. Contact has never been broken since.
Flick has been seeing Dantas for a long time
TO SPORTS TV Boto confirmed: “I have known the Bayern manager for a long time, and about six years ago we invited him for an interview. There was also a tournament and he saw Tiago Dantas play. He has been a fan ever since and has always asked about him.
And now he is also showing this interest in Munich. Although the youngster has only played for the second team in recent weeks, Flick let him train regularly with the pros. (SERVICE: Bundesliga table)
And also at the Allianz Arena it was clear that the Bayern manager has already taken his newcomer seriously. After the Champions League game against Atlético de Madrid, Dantas went down the stairs of the main stand almost unnoticed.
No progress at Benfica
Flick also joined his subsequent chat with the 127 million man Joao Félix. He applauded Dantas, asked him about his well-being and gave him a loving hug. “At that moment, I saw him for the first time that night in the stadium and wanted to say hello. It was intuitive,” explains Flick the encounter later in an interview with SPORT1.
But why did the coach want to sign the young Portuguese?
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Despite excellent performances in the Youth League, where he led his team to the final against Real Madrid (2-3) with four goals and two assists last season, it was not enough for a breakthrough at professional Benfica. Unlike players like Renato Sanches, Joao Félix and Ruben Dias, who became regulars of the traditional club shortly after their 18th birthday.
Not physically strong enough
“This is mainly due to physique. Dantas are only 1.70 meters tall and relatively slim,” Benfica expert and author Markus Horn recently said. SPORT1. “In Portugal, Dantas is considered to be a great talent with great ball control, keeping track of the field and can direct a game,” continued Horn.
But he is still a long way from the physical development of Alphonso Davies, Erling Haaland or Jadon Sancho. For Flick, however, there is no obstacle.
“As a coach, I really enjoy working with him. Tiago is a great footballer, he is open-minded and inquisitive. He is already showing his qualities in training with us. He is small, but has a great disposition. Developing his physique. We are working. We have a clear plan to improve this. “
In his previous appearances in the 3rd division, the Portuguese showed mixed performances.
Mixed performances in 3rd division
In his debut against 1. FC Kaiserslautern, he impressed everyone. With ball control, strategic skill and coordination, the tech-savvy right-hander became the best player on the field. After that, however, things continued to change.
Dantas has played six games so far, he was not involved in a goal. After his convincing start, he sometimes only showed average performance and was replaced multiple times. Ankle problems prevented him from doing more missions, and he only returned to training shortly before Christmas.
Now, with the integration with the professionals, a new chapter begins, for which the young man prepares thoroughly. He is diligently studying German and has followed suit with his cabin neighbor Thomas Müller. SPORT1-Information a supportive teammate next door who asks about their well-being. (SERVICE: Bundesliga schedule)
If all this is enough to succeed at Bayern it will show in the second half of the season. And sponsor Flick doesn’t want to and can’t commit. “Let’s see. We’ll watch him very closely.”
