AFP, Berlin :
He only turned 19 in February, but Jamal Musiala is proving to be the versatile teenage jewel in Bayern Munich’s midfield who turned down Chelsea in favour of a return to his native Germany.
When Bayern face Villarreal away in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie Wednesday, Musiala could be deployed either as an attacking or defensive midfielder.
“He can enrich any team – including Bayern Munich and the national team,” said Germany head coach Hansi Flick.
“He knows how to assert himself, creates space, is very good in one-on- ones and can dribble at speed.”
Musiala broke into Bayern’s first team last season as an attacking midfielder with an eye for a defence-splitting pass.
He was born in Stuttgart, but moved with his family to England as a child and rose through Chelsea’s academy before joining Bayern in 2019.
Despite playing for England Under-21s in 2020, he opted to play senior football for Germany.
His full debut for the four-time world champions followed in March 2021.
Last September, Germany legend Lothar Matthaeus said Musiala can become “a second Neymar”, after the teenager dazzled with a goal and assist off the bench as Bayern hammered RB Leipzig.
The lanky teen has been dubbed “Bambi” by team-mates, but he’s shown a more combative side since switching to a deeper role for both Bayern and Germany in recent weeks.
“He pinched a lot of balls,” Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said after Musiala came on to help Bayern to a 4-1 win at Freiburg on Saturday.
“They call him ‘Bambi’, but he has good aggressiveness.”
Nagelsmann revealed that Musiala “thought I was joking” when suggesting before Christmas that he try playing in a more defensive position.
It has turned out to be an inspired move with Musiala slotting in when a hip injury sidelined Leon Goretzka for four months.
Flick started Musiala as an attacking midfielder in Germany’s 2-0 friendly win over Israel, then dropped him back down the pitch, where he stayed for last week’s 1-1 draw with the Netherlands.
