CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SENSATION Jamal Musiala has chosen Germany over England after making an agonising decision on his international future.
The 17-year-old, who became Bayern Munich’s youngest goalscorer in Europe’s premier club competition in Tuesday night’s 4-1 victory over Lazio, was born in Stuttgart to a German mother and a British-Nigerian father, but moved to England with his family as a seven-year-old and has represented both countries at youth level.
Musiala was spotted by Chelsea as a youngster before swapping their academy for Bayern’s two years ago, and his progress since has placed him at the centre of a tug of love which has now been resolved.
He told The Athletic: “I’ve thought about this question a lot. What is best for my future? Where do I have more chances to play?
“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.
“I have a heart for Germany and a heart for England. Both hearts will keep on beating.”
Germany boss Joachim Low, along with club-mates Joshua Kimmich and Serge Gnabry, played a part in Musiala’s decision, meeting him in January to discuss the way ahead as he searches for a new generation of international stars.
But the midfielder, who turns 18 on Friday and is expected to sign a new contract at Bayern, will not forget those at both Chelsea and the Football Association who have helped him on his journey.
He said: “They are family for me, and I am sure that I remain a member of the family, even though I’m no longer here.
“I wouldn’t be where I am right now without the trust and support of Chelsea FC and the FA, throughout the hard times and fun times. It wasn’t always easy, but they made me the player I am now.”
Musiala, the second youngest scorer in the Champions League knockout stages after Bojan Krkic, who struck for Barcelona at 17 years and 217 days, played for England at U15, U16, U17 and U21 levels, but also Germany as an U16.
Headline is misleading
Ireland hammered
No matter how much the media keep trying to push women’s sport, they will ever be as popular as the men’s version. #reality
@fergalmoore: the fact you need to point that out is kinda sad but alright mate
@fergalmoore: so what. Let people enjoy it. This is the national team.
France were at a different level. You can’t be that late arriving at the rucks and very very loose line in defense against that side.
@Tommy C: Two trys from pillar in the ruck being asleep. Even with 14 France were far more composed. France pack we’re very impressive and some great offloading in the tackle.
Well beaten with some unacceptable individual errors. New coach on the cards imo.
@Hey TC: lost 7 in 8. Not sure what happened since Scotland. Seemed to have turned a corner?
@James Hughes: crash ball constantly, even when played out the line. No plan re the backs. Don’t get me wrong, strong performance, just lacking conviction in vital areas that let us down.
allez le bleu
What an utterly crazy red card. Ireland were well beaten but that was a shocking decision by the referee. If it had changed the direction of the game it would have been a complete travesty.
@Brian Jones:
Definitely yellow … red was very harsh.
@Camacsaint: definitely yellow, but red was just not correct.
Those girls looked like pure amateurs, as bad as a team of Rory bests
@Chris: it’s embarrassing yeah. I’d rather watch the angelus than Irish women butcher rugby.
@Chris: They are amateurs. They played a semi professional team.
Of course they looked like amateurs.
Reminds me of the many years in the Ireland v France men’s game when we were routinely destroyed, disgraced… Worse than that, Scotland Wales etc had no such problem – it seemed to be that a blue jersey was enough to terrorise us. The Scots, unlike us, had a hang-up about England. Stick at it ladies – you can make things change
Nothing can or will change until we have professionals!!
@BMJF: would 15000 people go to a woman’s rugby game in a year? How can they afford to pay the players on that
@tubbsyf: If it was based solely on attendance then a lot of players in a lot of sports wouldnt be professional.
@Ormond: participant rates as well play a huge part, hardly anybody plays or watched ladies rugby
As long as they noted the run out then who cares