IN Bavaria they are heralding a new superstar who could lead Bayern Munich for years to come and form a deadly partnership with Jamal Musiala.
Earlier this month, the Bundesliga giants put teenager Paul Wanner into their first team in a league game against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Aged just 16 years and 15 days, Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann put a caring arm around the attacking midfielder on the touchline before introducing the talent into the fray.
His appearance shattered a record originally set by Musiala, Wanner’s favourite player, as the club’s youngest ever Bundesliga star.
As Nagelsmann has put it. This is one “incredible talent”.
Early riser
Wanner was born in 2005 to an Austrian mother and a dad who played professional football in the Austria in the Allgau region in southern Germany.
He joined Bayern at the age of 12, and soon came to the attention in the U14’s for coach Alexander Moj.
Moj told The Athletic: “I think the under-14 indoor season, when we played against top teams and won awards, was the moment when he realised not only was he better than other players but he was also better than he thought he was.”
Consistently, Wanner played a year up at Bayern – but crucially never looked out of place.
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Currently, he’s starring in the U19’s – where he has shown his natural ability with the ball at his feet.
In a Under-19 German Cup game against Hertha Berlin, a video went viral of Wanner’s impressive dribbling skills.
Last year, Nagelsmann introduced the teenager into the first team set-up, where he trained with Bayern’s international superstars.
He was reportedly fearless in the transition, playing his natural game between the pockets.
COME IN NO10
There is a feeling in Germany that Wanner is exactly what the country needs in terms of a genuine playmaker.
His skillset isn’t the typical midfield general we’ve seen through the years, think Matthaus, Effenberg, Schweinsteiger and most recently Joshua Kimmich.
Wanner, who stands at a slight 5ft 7in, lends more to a Thomas Hassler-type, a creative spark who plays the game forwards, is able to thread defence-splitting passes and thrives on one-on-one situations.
Although a career in football seems to be already mapped out for him, Wanner is taking nothing for granted.
He hasn’t neglected his studies and attends Gymnasium – a secondary school for the most academic German kids.
There he is achieving good grades. And when the bell goes at 4:30pm, half-an-hour later he’s at training.
Wanner isn’t short of confidence either. Bayern technical director Marco Neppe was so impressed by his early sessions with the first team he called him “rotzfrech”, which translates as cocky and bold.
Bayern know full well they’ve got a player on their hands, and are doing everything they can to ensure he’s enjoying his football at the club.
Next summer, his youth contract expires. Although it’s perhaps inconceivable Wanner would move, he could go elsewhere for more regular game-time.
However, it’s Bayern that seemingly have the edge, having already integrated Wanner with the seniors.
And with the skills he possesses, there’s every chance he will be leading Bayern’s attacking threats in years to come.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
