The “King” sees game in his regen at FC Bayern.
Bayern Munich youngster Lennart Karl has lit the football pitch on fire with his performances. His exploits have not gone unnoticed. Former winger of the club Franck Ribery, with whom Karl shares similarities, has backed the 17 year-old for the FIFA World Cup.
No such thing as “too early”
The former French international dismissed the age factor to represent one’s country at the World Cup. “If you’re ready and you have quality, then you’re ready. There’s no time in football. Why do we have to wait? There’s no ‘too early’ in football. I hope he continues this way,” said Ribery in an interview with Sport1 ( as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
Franck Ribery was a mercurial player who won everything at the club level with Bayern. An effortless dribbler with explosive acceleration who used his short frame to deceive and get past defenders, Ribery is the perfect footballer that Karl can learn from and polish his skills. Due to the similarities in their playstyle and frame, Karl is sometimes called Ribery’s regen.
Revelation under Vincent Kompany
Karl while previously expressed an interest to play in the World Cup, he emphasized that his focus lies on making the best from the opportunities he has been handed. With the injury of Jamal Musiala along the departures of Leroy Sané and Thomas Müller created space to experiment with the youngster.
Karl has rewarded Vincent Kompany’s trust with impactful performances and has added himself as a potent weapon in Bayern’s toolkit. With 5 goals and 2 assists in 19 appearances, the 17-year-old has held his own against teams in the Bundesliga and the Champions League where he has scored 3 goals. It should also be noted that the manner VK has handled a young player deserves praise. Protecting the kid and making a measured introduction has taken off any pressure while also ensuring Karl stays fit despite the workload of the senior level.
Now, it’s up to Julian Nagelsmann to make the call on whether Karl will play for Germany in the WC. If Nags needs a super sub who can dribble and score with a sweet shot, he knows whom to call.
Category: General Sports
