Jamal musiala, the boy who stopped being Bambi: “I still can’t forgive him”

There are not a few football players who, when they enter the field, turn into someone else. That’s right Jamal musiala. A shy boy who He got the nickname Bambi in the Bayern Munich dressing room… He even became the most visible face of the Bavarian team and a German citizen With only 21 years. Now , he stopped by the Tribune’s ‘players’ to review his Meteoric rise.

In June 2020, At just 17 years old, Hansi Flick called the very young beauty musyala Which, at that time, became The youngest rookie in the history of Bayern Munich. A confession that, over the years, has been extorted by Matisse tell, Arjen Ibrahimovic or Paul Waner.

It was on the penultimate day of the Bundesliga in an illogical match against Freiburg with the league already won before registering in the Champions League ‘bubble’ Then, weeks later, they ended up lifting against Paris Saint-Germain. Musyala, however, retains the memory of that day as gold in the canvas. “My first match in an empty stadium was against Freiburg due to the pandemic. You could only hear ‘radio ermler’ in the camp.”

My first match in an empty stadium was against Freiburg due to the pandemic. Only ‘radio emschler’ can be heard in the countryside

Jamal musiala

At that time, musiala I have already been training with the first team for several weeks. Something I could never have imagined coming so quickly after leaving the Chelsea academy to return to Germany.

“I was racing in Munich. It was 2020, just before the pandemic. I was 17 years old. I had my headphones on and my phone started ringing. I thought it was my mother. I picked up the phone and it was Tiger Gerland. He said: “I just wanted to tell you that you will train with the first team tomorrow .” I was so shocked that I turned around and I ran home to tell mom.”

Now I go to training with emerler, noir and kimish and my mother leaves me in a small Volkswagen Polo

Jamal musiala

He was still a teenager who needed his mother to take him to the Sports City: “That’s what we did every day. But Now I’m going to train with imschler, Neuer, kimish and my mother leaves me in a small Volkswagen Polo.”

There are children who are ‘bastards’ and others… Quite the contrary. Jamal, it was more than seconds: “I was just thinking about security letting me in. But, really, I had no idea where to go. I was just there to complete the number of players that day. I felt like an intern on the first day at the office.”

And it was at that exact moment when he received the famous nickname ‘Bambi’: “I was very afraid to sit in someone’s seat by accident. I was just trying to be invisible. I thought they would be really hard on me. But everyone was very nice… Save Sané. I still do not forgive him the nickname Bambi.”

But everyone was very nice… Save Sané. I still can’t forgive her the nickname Bambi

Jamal musiala

But, When he entered the stadium, that shy boy turned into a football player who little by little was turning into what we see today: “I wanted to make sure that the level did not drop when I was there. Everything that came after that was a bit confusing. But I remember when I came off the court, I looked at the other players and knew that it was my place. I could see it in their faces.”

Many children dream of reaching that moment. But, at that time, Musyala had already lived for a long time. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why he shows himself to be a very mature football player for his age. His journey began much further.

I remember when I came off the court, I looked at the other players and knew that it was my place. I could see it in their faces

Jamal musiala

Jamal was born in Stuttgart in 2003 , he had to move to England when he was only seven years old For his mother to complete her studies. He quickly entered the Southampton academy. There are, He met Levi Colwell before they embarked on their way to Chelsea together In 2011.

“Colwell was one of the first friends I got to know when I arrived in England. I attended the first day of training at the Southampton academy and spoke 99% German. But you know how football is… It is the universal language. I approached Levi because I thought he seemed nice and I did my best.”

We spent eight years in England before returning to Germany. Brexit was about to take effect in the UK and mom was worried about how it would affect her career

Jamal musiala

Musyala is fully aware of her family’s efforts to be able to realize her dreams: “I was looking at all those old photos the other day and it reminded me of the way we got away from everything. We spent eight years in England before returning to Germany. Brexit was about to take effect in the UK and my mother was worried about how it would affect her career as an expat working in London. We could not get clear answers. It was exhausting. Just at that time, Bayern Munich gave us the opportunity to return home.”

I hope I have made my family proud of me

Jamal musiala

Today, with 21 years, Musiala is very clear about what her goals are In football: “Sometimes you have to look at the camera roll again to remember the little things. At the age of 26, I hope to get the World Cup and some Champions League titles on my show. I hope I have made my family proud of me.” I stopped being Bambi a long time ago… If it ever was.