Bayern Munich youngster Jamal Musiala confirms he has snubbed England to play international football for Germany… as it is revealed a meeting with Joachim Low tipped the balance in favour of his birth country
- Jamal Musiala has explained why he has chosen to represent Germany
- The Bayern Munich youngster played for England at Under 21 level
- The winger met with Germany manager Joachim Low earlier this year
Jamal Musiala has confirmed his decision to play international football for Germany, after previously starring for England U21.
The 17-year-old was born in Stuttgart to a German mother and British-Nigerian father before moving to England at the age of seven, where he went on to play for Chelsea‘s academy. The winger then moved back to Germany to join Bayern Munich in July 2019.
Musiala represented England at U15, U16, U17 before making his U21 debut in November last year. He also played two games for Germany’s U16 side in 2018. But the winger was presented with a decision when it became clear both Gareth Southgate and Joachim Low wanted to include him in their senior set-ups for the upcoming internationals.
Jamal Musiala has explained why he has decided to choose Germany over England
Sportsmail revealed on Sunday that Musiala was set to choose Germany over England.
Now, in an interview with The Athletic, he has now confirmed he will declare for his birth country but admitted it had been an extremely difficult decision.
‘England is home for me,’ he said.
The winger said England will always feel like home and admitted it had been a tough choice
Musiala met with Germany boss Joachim Low (right) while Bayern team-mates Serge Gnabry (left) and Joshua Kimmich were also said to have helped convince him
‘It is difficult to find words for what England means for me because I have so many memories connected to very positive emotions.’
‘I have a heart for Germany and a heart for England. Both hearts will keep on beating.’
Musiala’s Bayern Munich team-mates Joshua Kimmich and Serge Gnabry are said to have been in the youngster’s ear about joining them in the German national team while Low met with him in January to convince him of the pathway in place.
‘I’ve thought about this question a lot,’ Musiala said when asked why he opted for Germany.
‘What is best for my future? Where do I have more chances to play? In the end, I just listened to the feeling that over a long period of time kept telling me that it was the right decision to play for Germany, the land I was born in. Still, it wasn’t an easy decision for me.’
The 17-year-old scored his first Champions League goal in Bayern’s 4-1 win over Lazio
Musiala became Bayern’s youngest ever player when he made his senior debut in June 2020 at the age of 17 years and 115 days.
He then became their youngest goalscorer when he netted in an 8-0 win over Schalke in September.
The winger also scored his first Champions League goal in Bayern’s 4-1 victory against Lazio on Wednesday.