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When it was announced that Bayern Munich goalkeeper prospect Christian Früchtl would be heading to FC Nürnberg on a loan assignment, there was a lot of hope that the 20-year-old would be able to break through as a contributing player on a 2. Bundesliga side.
Unfortunately for all parties involved in the deal, that has not exactly worked out.
Früchtl has not made one appearance so far for Der Club, as manager Robert Klauß has opted to exclusively use 28-year-old Mainz native Christian Mathenia inbetween the sticks this season.
Per Sport1 reporter Florian Plettenberg, Früchtl has grown frustrated with his lack of playing time and he is fully planning to return to Bayern Munich this summer. FC Nürnberg sporting director Dieter Hecking has continued to praise Früchtl for his efforts at practice, but clearly things have not worked out:
Update #Früchtl: He's frustrated at #FCN and he has no chance against the number one currently (Mathenia). As of now, he returns to Bayern in the summer, a winter escape is currently not an issue for him. Hecking praises his training performances. @SPORT1 #FCBayern
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) January 22, 2021
Should Früchtl return to Bayern Munich this summer, he will find the goalkeeping ranks a bit crowded. With Manuel Neuer showing no signs of slowing down, Früchtl would be in competition with 24-year-old Alexander Nübel and 21-year-old Ron-Thorben Hoffmann for the roles of back-up to Neuer and Bayern Munich II starter respectively.
Nübel, of course, is in a similar situation to Früchtl as he cannot get on the field, while Hoffmann has quietly turned in a solid season in 3. Liga.