Jamal Musiala Shines as Bayern Munich’s Key Player
Bayern Munich is witnessing the rise of Jamal Musiala as a pivotal player for the current season, with hopes high that the talented young German will remain with the club for the long haul.
With his contract set to expire at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, there remains considerable time for discussions regarding a potential extension. However, Musiala’s exceptional performance this season has brought urgency to the negotiations, putting pressure on Bayern’s management to secure his future amidst concerns of rival teams making advances for his signature.
The club has experienced past challenges in retaining key players such as Toni Kroos and David Alaba, both of whom departed for Real Madrid when contract extensions fell through. Similarly, Robert Lewandowski left for Barcelona in 2022 after he opted not to renew his deal, which had just one year remaining.
Recognizing Musiala’s potential, Bayern views the 21-year-old forward as a cornerstone for the club’s future, albeit without compromising their commitment to sound financial practices. The club remains steadfast in maintaining its record revenues while managing player contracts wisely.
“Jamal is an extraordinary player (but) it’s not the time to talk about extending his contract,” remarked Bayern’s sporting director, Max Eberl, following their impressive 4-0 victory over Mainz in the German Cup, where Musiala notably netted a hat trick.
After the match, Musiala humorously imitated teammate Harry Kane in a mock post-game interview, reflecting on “another special night” while emphasizing the team’s desire to maintain their momentum against challenging opponents.
Kane has been in fine form, netting 11 goals in the Bundesliga this season; however, Musiala is fast becoming the team’s game-changer as he continually adds to his skill set. Recently, he scored a remarkable long-range goal that secured a 1-0 away victory against St. Pauli, extending Bayern’s winning streak to five matches across all competitions.
“It was my first goal from outside the box this year,” Musiala expressed, acknowledging that his successful shot came as a result of training to strike from distance. His excitement was palpable as the ball found its way in off the crossbar.
Throughout the season, Musiala has pushed to expand his capabilities. He opened the Bundesliga campaign with a goal in a 3-2 victory against Wolfsburg and has recorded five goals along with two assists so far, despite a spell on the sidelines due to injury.
In addition, he added to his repertoire by scoring with his head during Bayern’s 1-0 triumph over Benfica in the Champions League, celebrating with mock surprise at his own header—a testament to his usual playing style that often involves darting past defenders using incredible balance, speed, and technical prowess.
The header against Benfica marked his second of the season, including one from his hat trick against Mainz. “I think I’ve taken steps forward,” Musiala noted, recognizing his improved contributions in both goals and assists compared to the previous year. He also mentioned his focus on enhancing his fitness to enable consistent participation in matches.
When queried about whether Musiala’s impressive performances might serve as leverage for a contract extension, Bayern’s sporting director Christoph Freund acknowledged that the player had already made a strong case for himself, emphasizing his present form and contributions.
“We mentioned that he’s now scoring headers and long-range goals—those are not everyday occurrences,” Freund elaborated. “It was another fantastic goal. The importance of these goals cannot be overlooked, and he is in exceptional form.”
Looking ahead, Musiala will be representing Germany in Nations League matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Hungary before returning to Bundesliga action, where Bayern will host Augsburg on November 22.