Bundesliga
Alphonso Davies: "An honour to play for Bayern Munich"
It's not even been a week since Alphonso Davies officially joined Bayern Munich, but the Canadian teenager already feels at home at the record German champions.
"I'm settling in well," the 18-year-old said from Bayern's winter training camp in Doha on Tuesday. "We're training hard every day and I'm giving 100 per cent. It's a real honour to be able to play for this club and share the pitch with these players."
'The tempo is a challenge'
Davies signed for Bayern in the summer, but FIFA eligibility rules prevented him from being formally registered with the first-team squad until the transfer window after his 18th birthday opened. Even now, he still has to pinch himself to make sure he's not dreaming.
"When I found out I'd be joining Bayern, I was about to play a game against Montreal Impact," Davies recalled. "It was overwhelming, I was super excited. I think the first guy I saw in the locker room here was [Arjen] Robben, and I was like 'wow!'. Playing with these guys, playing against them, I was a little nervous. The biggest challenge is the tempo of the ball, but as time goes on I'll get more and more comfortable."
'Thiago and Messi my role models'
While Davies says he is eager to learn from the likes of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben - players he was "used to seeing on TV or playing as on the Playstation" - Barcelona wizard Lionel Messi was his inspiration as a kid.
"Growing up, Lionel Messi was the player I looked up to," said Davies, before revealing the name of another La Masia academy product to have caught his eye in recent days. "I've been watching Thiago quite closely in training. He's a bit of a role model for me."
It was also Bayern's midfield metronome who reminded Davies of the rite of passage facing the former Vancouver Whitecaps winger in the coming days.
"Thiago told me I've still got to perform my initiation song to the players," continued Canada's youngest-ever debutant and goalscorer. "I haven't chosen one yet, but I like hip-hop and RnB."
'I hope I can take my chance'
Davies also explained why he chose the vacant number 19 shirt.
"It's the year I'm eligible to play for this amazing club," he explained. "Now I just want to do my best in every training session, and if I get the chance then I hope I can take it."