Bundesliga
"Jamal Musiala has the basis for an outstanding career" - Nagelsmann
Despite only being in the job since the beginning of July, Bayern Munich head coach Julian Nagelsmann has already seen the vast potential that Jamal Musiala has.
The 18-year-old has become a first-team regular at Bayern Munich in no time at all since joining the record Bundesliga champions aged 16 in 2019. Musiala has scored 10 goals in 43 appearances for Bayern, scoring three goals in just four competitive games played under Nagelsmann.
Those performances, and what the former RB Leipzig tactician has seen in training, have led him to believe that Musiala has a long and successful career ahead of him.
"He has unbelievable potential," Nagelsmann said. "It's extraordinary. He has great finishing qualities. Unbelievable attacking qualities also in his dribbling with the ball.
"He justified my trust [in him]. He's doing very well. He has the basis for an outstanding career."
The teenager earned his first Bundesliga start of 2021/22 in Bayern's 5-0 defeat of Hertha Berlin on Matchday 3, with his goal and overall performance justifying his selection ahead of both Leroy Sane and Kingsley Coman on the left side of Bayern's attack.
Watch: Musiala's Bundesliga mixtape!
And despite only being 18, Musiala has already made five appearances for the German national team. Now, with former Bayern head coach Hansi Flick taking over from Joachim Löw after last summer's UEFA European Championships, Musiala is set for more appearances at international level.
And Musiala's humility after all his early success is what has impressed Nagelsmann most.
"The nice thing is that he is very humble and doesn't celebrate when he plays well," Nagelsmann said. "He has this football pitch mentality. He has to maintain that, this carefree nature. That's unbelievably good. My biggest task is not to drive it out of him."