Bayern Munich loanee Alexander Nübel talks playing as a midfielder when he was younger

Bayern Munich loanee Alexander Nübel had quite a ride to get to AS Monaco this season, but what many people do not know about the 24-year-old is that he came up in football as a midfielder.

Specifically, Nübel played as a defensive midfielder until U-14. At that point, he had to make a decision on which path to follow: midfielder or goalkeeper? Many would say that the former Schalke 04 man made the right decision.

“I started playing as a midfielder, a number six. I played in this position until U-14 and then I went in goal because I had to decide, my coaches asked me to choose,” Nübel told the AS Monaco club website. “I think this decision was not that bad and I’m really happy to play goalkeeper.”

This generation of fans has been clamoring for Manuel Neuer to take the pitch in the midfield — or at striker. Will the next do the same for Nübel?