There are many footballers who, when they enter the field, ‘transform’ into another person. That’s Jamal Musiala. A shy boy who earned the nickname Bambi in the Bayern locker room… until he became the most visible face of the Bavarian team and the German national team at just 21 years old. Now, he stops by ‘The Players’ Tribune’ to review his meteoric rise.
Musiala, during a match with Bayern in 2021EFE
In June 2020, at just 17 years old, Hansi Flick called up a very young Jamal Musiala who, at that time, became the youngest debutant in the history of Bayern Munich. A recognition that, over the years, Mathys Tel, Arijon Ibrahimovic and Paul Wanner have taken from him.
It was on the penultimate day of the Bundesliga in an inconsequential match against Freiburg with the league already won before joining the Champions League ‘bubble’ that, weeks later, they ended up lifting against PSG. Musiala, however, keeps the memory of that day like gold. “My first game was in an empty stadium against Freiburg due to the pandemic. Only ‘Radio Müller’ could be heard on the field.”
My first game was in an empty stadium against Freiburg due to the pandemic. Only ‘Radio Müller’ could be heard in the countryside
Jamal Musiala
At that time, Musiala had already been training with the first team for several weeks. Something I could never have imagined would come so quickly after leaving the Chelsea academy to return to Germany.
“I was running in Munich. It was 2020, right before the pandemic. I was 17. I had headphones on and my phone started ringing. I thought it was my mom. I picked up the phone and it was Tiger Gerland. She said, ‘I just wanted to tell you that tomorrow you will train with the first team. I was so surprised that I turned around and ran home to tell my mother.”
Now I’m going to train with Müller, Neuer and Kimmich and my mother leaves me in her little VW 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 go to train with Müller, Neuer and Kimmich and my mother leaves me in her little VW Polo.”
There are children who are ‘scoundrels’ and others… quite the opposite. Jamal, was more of the latter: “I was just thinking that the security would let me in. But, in reality, I had no idea where to go. I was only there to complete the number of players that day. I felt like an intern in the first day in the office.”
Musiala, during a Champions League match against Atlético de MaridÁNGEL RIVERO
It was at that precise moment that she earned the famous nickname ‘Bambi’: “I was very afraid of sitting in someone’s seat by accident. I was just trying to be invisible. I thought they were going to be very hard on me. But everyone was very kind. ..saved Sané. I still haven’t forgiven him for the nickname Bambi.”
But everyone was very kind… Sané saved. I still haven’t forgiven him for the nickname Bambi.
Jamal Musiala
But, when he entered the field, that shy boy transformed into the footballer who, little by little, has mutated into what we see today: “I wanted to make sure that the level did not drop when I was there. Everything that came Afterwards it was a little confusing. But I remember when I walked off the field, I looked at the other players and I knew it was my place.
Many children dream of reaching that moment. But by then, Musiala had already lived too long. It is, possibly, one of the reasons why he appears to be a tremendously mature footballer for his age. His journey began much further back.
I remember when I left the field, I looked at the other players and knew it was my place. I could see it in their faces
Jamal Musiala
Born in Stuttgart in 2003, Jamal had to move to England when he was just seven years old so that his mother could complete her studies. He quickly entered Southampton’s academy. There, he met Levi Colwill before embarking on their path to Chelsea together in 2011.
Musiala and Colwill, during their time at Chelsea
“One of the first friends I made when I arrived in England was Colwill. I showed up on the first day of training at Southampton’s academy and I spoke 99% German. But you know how football is… it’s the universal language. “I approached Levi because I guess he seemed nice and I did my best.”
We spent eight years in England before returning to Germany. Brexit was about to come into effect in the UK and my mother was worried about how it would affect her career.
Jamal Musiala
Musiala is fully aware of his family’s efforts to fulfill their dreams: “The other day I was looking at all those old photos and it reminded me of how far we have gotten away from everything. We spent eight years in England before returning to Germany. Brexit It was about to come into effect in the UK and my mother was worried about how it would affect her career as an expat working in London. We couldn’t get clear answers. It was stressful right around that time, Bayern Munich offered us. the opportunity to return home.
I hope I have made my family proud of me.
Jamal Musiala
Today, still 21 years old, Musiala is very clear about his goals in football: “Sometimes you have to look at the camera roll again to remember the little things. At 26, I hope to have a World Cup and a few Champions League trophies in my cabinet. I hope I have made my family proud of me. He stopped being Bambi a long time ago… if he ever was.
