"Jamal Musiala the future of German football" - Ilkay Gündogan
Bayern Munich teenager Jamal Musiala is among the most exciting footballers in Germany, according to international teammate Ilkay Gündogan.
After a breakout 2020/21, Musiala consolidated his place in the Bayern senior squad this past season, registering eight goals and six assists in 40 competitive appearances. The 19-year-old's performances have translated onto the international stage, where he has a goal and assist to show for his first 12 senior caps.
Musiala's upward trajectory isn't making Gündogan's job of earning regular minutes under Germany head coach Hansi Flick any easier - he already has the likes of Bayern pair Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka to contend with - but the 31-year-old Manchester City man has welcomed the ex-Chelsea youngster's emergence on the senior circuit.
"Musiala is the future of German football, alongside guys like [Karim] Adeyemi, [Nico] Schlotterbeck and David Raum," Gündogan told media. "He's unbelievably talented, and already very far on in his development for his age."
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Musiala and Gündogan were Flick's starting midfield double pivot in Germany's friendly draw against the Netherlands in March. Although the teenager has expressed his preference for playing in attacking midfield, he also made 14 appearances as a No.6 for Julian Nagelsmann's Bayern in 2021/22. Much like Flick and Nagelsmann, Gündogan believes Musiala is well suited to the role.
"There's no questioning Jamal's quality on the ball. His movement is superb and even though he's pretty slight, he's very strong in the tackle," the former Nuremberg and Borussia Dortmund midfielder explained. "He already uses his body very intelligently. If he's smart about it, he'll make sure he uses it in a way that avoids him going shoulder to shoulder [with the opposition]."
Musiala and Gündogan both started Germany's 1-1 draw with England in their second Nations League fixture on 7 June.
Musiala appeared as a 89th-minute substitute against the Three Lions at UEFA Euro 2020, having represented England - where he spent much of his youth - at U15s, 16s, 17s and 21s level before pledging his allegiance to his country of birth. He is the youngest player in history to appear for Germany at a major finals.
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