Leon Goretzka has bold ambitions at Bayern Munich

Leon Goretzka is looking forward to his first World Cup campaign with the senior German National Team and feels at home in the team’s camp alongside seven of his future Bayern Munich teammates. The 23-year-old midfielder has decided on a move from Schalke to Bayern in the winter transfer window and will officially become a Bayern player as of July 1st.

Looking forward to his first season with Bayern, Goretzka has bold ambitions. Despite the fact that Bayern’s midfield is packed, Goretzka told TZ that he has no intention to sit on the bench:

I definitely didn’t go there [to Bayern] to stand at the back of the line. I’m well aware of the fact that there is an immense amount of quality there. I’ve transferred to an absolutely world-class club. And it’s quite clear that you have to perform—in order to claim a place in the starting lineup. But that’s my plan. I didn’t go there to sit on the bench. On the contrary, I’d like to help the team with my game!

Goretzka is the only representative of Schalke (for now) on Germany’s World Cup roster, so it should come as no surprise that the midfielder has been spending a good amount of his time in between sessions for Germany with his future Bayern teammates. Spending so much time around the Bayern septet in Die Mannschaft’s camp, Goretzka admits, will certainly help with his transition to Bayern this summer, especially having known both Niklas Süle and Joshua Kimmich for quite some time:

It's definitely not wrong-headed [to spend time with his Bayern teammates]. I’ve known Niklas Süle for a long time, since he played for Frankfurt in the youth academy. That’s why we get along so well. I’ve known Joshua Kimmich forever, too. They’re companions that you’ve known for a long time.

Süle added his own side fo the store:

‘Gore’ [pronounce: ‘Gor-reh’] has been my buddy forever. We first bumped into each other at a U12 tournament, I think. That’s how long I’ve known him for. He’s always been a good friend of mine.

Goretzka also revealed that he’s already found an apartment in Munich ahead of his move this summer. It will be one less thing he has to worry about when getting used to a new city that he’ll call home:

I’ve preoccupied myself with the city very much so since I decided to come to Munich. I’ve already finished looking for an apartment. And deliberate finished—so that I can get that business out of the way and concentrate completely on the national team. Afterwards I’ll concentrate completely on Bayern Munich.