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Following his incredible performance against Lazio in the Champions League last night, Bayern Munich youngster Jamal Musiala has finally confirmed his decision to represent Germany at the senior international level. This comes after weeks of speculation and an intense tug of war between the DFB and the Three Lions over the future of the talented youngster.
Speaking to Raphael Honigstein of The Athletic, Musiala confirmed the decision, saying it hadn’t been easy for him to choose:
EXCLUSIVE | Jamal Musiala
— The Athletic UK (@TheAthleticUK) February 24, 2021
"In the end, I just listened to the feeling that over a long period of time kept telling me that it was the right decision to play for Germany, the land I was born in. Still, it wasn't an easy decision for me."
@honigsteinhttps://t.co/Fa0Uw28GXi
Musiala will now accept the expected callup to Joachim Low’s squad in next month’s international break. This might also indicate at a possible contract extension with Bayern in the near future, given that Musiala would probably like to grow his career playing alongside his NT teammates at the club level. Yesterday, he already showed exceptional chemistry while starting in midfield with Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich — just imagine those performances on the international stage.
For Low, Musiala’s decision is a godsend, because after kicking out Thomas Muller from the squad, Germany was in a bit of a crisis in the attacking midfield position. Obviously the correct decision would still be to recall Muller, but bringing up Musiala is the next best thing. He’s certainly better than Low’s golden boy Julian Draxler, and he will be easier to integrate into the side compared to other options like Kai Havertz and Florian Wirtz (owing to pre-established chemistry with his teammates).
This was a pragmatic decision by Musiala overall, since he stands a much better chance of getting consistent callups from the DFB than England. With Phil Foden, Mason Mount, Jack Grealish, and so many others, the English have plenty of talent at his position, which would make him another name on the list. For Germany, his impact can be instantaneous, and he can quickly apply what he learned at club level to give himself a head start.
Now, all that remains is the new contract at Bayern. Musiala turns 18 in a few weeks, we hope to see him sign it right after his birthday.