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Bayern Munich’s 17-year-old midfielder Jamal Musiala, who played for England’s youth teams, has chosen to represent Germany internationally.
Sky Sports News reported in early February that the young Bayern star would be called up by Germany’s senior team and England’s Under-21 team before the next international break scheduled for late March.
Musiala, born in Stuttgart to a German mother and a British-Nigerian father, has represented England at the youth team level 22 times and has participated in the last two training camps with Aidy Boothroyd’s under-21 team.
However, despite admitting to being divided between the two countries, the 17-year-old confirmed that he wishes to represent the country of his birth.
“I have thought a lot about this question,” he told Athletic. “What is the best for my future? Where do I have more opportunities to play?
“In the end, I heard the feeling that for a long period of time he kept telling me that it was the right decision to play for Germany, the land where I was born.
“Still, it was not an easy decision for me. England is my home. It is difficult to find words for what England means to me because I have so many memories connected to very positive emotions.
“I have a heart for Germany and a heart for England. Both hearts will continue to beat.”
Musiala, who represented England in the youth team 22 times, is expected to sign his first professional contract with Bayern on his 18th birthday on Friday this week.
The young attacking midfielder had a stellar performance in Bayern’s win over Lazio in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday.
He scored Bayern’s second goal in their 4-1 win, becoming the club’s youngest goalscorer in the competition.
Who is Musiala?
Born in Stuttgart in 2003 to a British-Nigerian father and a German mother, Musiala lived in Germany until the age of seven before moving to England.
The attacking wing player began his playing career in the Chelsea books after moving to Stamford Bridge in 2011 after a brief spell with Southampton.
He enlisted at the Whitgift School in Croydon, where Callum Hudson-Odoi, Victor Moses, and Bertrand Traore spent their formative years of education.
But Musiala left the club’s academy in July 2019 and was signed by Bayern and has continued his development with the Bundesliga club’s youth teams.
A record year
Such was the impression that Musiala quickly moved from Miroslav Klose’s U-17 team to the first team.
He became the youngest player to appear in the Bundesliga for the club when he made his debut against Freiburg in June, at just 17 years and 115 days.
Records have continued to fall.
In September, at 17 years and 205 days, Musiala became the club’s youngest goalscorer during Bayern’s 8-0 win over Schalke, eclipsing a 21-year record set by Roque Santa Cruz.
On Tuesday, Musiala scored his first Champions League goal in just his fourth appearance in the competition, making him the second-youngest player to score in the round of 16, behind Bojan (17 years, 217 days). for Barcelona against Schalke in the quarterfinals. in 2007/08.
What your manager said
Having become the youngest English scorer in the Champions League, Bayern manager Hans-Dieter Flick praised the 17-year-old for his “great eye and feeling for picking the right spaces”.
“We’re happy that Jamal put in a great performance and so did the whole team,” said Flick. “Of course his goal made him stand out. He’s very confident on the ball and can play well between the lines.
“He has a great eye and sensitivity to choose the right spaces. So he did his job well, like everyone else. We are always happy with a goal and we are very satisfied.
“It was decisive to have someone like him, as we need possession and we wanted to outnumber the opponent in the different areas between the lines and mid-spaces. He did very well.”
Could you move on to the Premier League?
Musiala is unlikely to acquire the Premier League anytime soon, and the player is expected to sign a new long-term contract with Bayern on his 18th birthday within two days.
His three goals in 16 league appearances, predominantly as a substitute this season under Flick, point to a path that is not hampered by the presence of more established names, and his progress is likely to lead to more cases of young English players taking the same way.
The Guardian reported last week that the former Chelsea star is about to put an end to any uncertainties about his future. The report stated that Musiala will sign an incentivized contract that will run through the summer of 2026.
His commitment to the Allianz Arena on a superb new five-year contract worth £ 100,000 a week will end speculation about his club’s future that reportedly caught the attention of Liverpool and Manchester United.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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