Bayern Munich teenager Lennart Karl impressed in pre-season friendlies and is eager to earn first-team minutes in the Bundesliga and German Supercup.
The attacking midfielder scored in Bayern’s friendly wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Grasshopper Zurich, where he also set up another goal. Bayern is preparing for the upcoming German Supercup against VfB Stuttgart.
“Now I also want to get playing time in the bigger games, for example, the Supercup or the Bundesliga,” Karl said after the win over Zurich. “I am working very hard towards that and I hope it works out. I want to lead the way as a youth player, show my strengths, and continue to develop. The games are completely different compared to the youth team. Coming to training every day, playing with the best from all over the world — of course the intensity is very high, but yes, I can definitely keep up.”
Karl’s rise is particularly significant given Bayern’s recent history with youth players. Only a few academy products have successfully made the jump to the senior team in recent years, especially after club legend Thomas Mueller left following 25 years at the club.
Some fans have criticized Bayern coach Vincent Kompany for not integrating enough youth talent, making Karl’s performances all the more important. If he continues his form, he could become the latest academy graduate to make a real impact at Bayern.
Karl has also impressed in training, keeping up with world-class teammates and adapting quickly to the higher intensity of senior football. His development highlights the strength of Bayern Munich’s youth academy, which continues to produce promising talent for the first team.
The Bundesliga kicks off soon, with Bayern hosting RB Leipzig. Karl will hope to feature prominently and prove that he can thrive at the top level.
