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The Bayern Munich ace could have been a regular for the Super Eagles or the Three Lions, but chose to pitch his tent with Germany
After being named man of the match in Germany’s opening 2024 European Championship match against Scotland, Jamal Musiala has revealed how he finally decided to represent Die Mannschaft, despite being eligible for two other countries.
The 21-year-old's stellar performance for Germany in their 5-1 win over Scotland could have been a different story, given his eligibility to represent Nigeria or England at the international level.
Musiala eligible for Nigeria and England
Born in Stuttgart, Musiala's football journey saw him break through Bayern Munich's academy to the first team. Despite this German backdrop, his international career could have taken various paths.
Musiala was eligible to represent Nigeria through his father and spent significant years in England, where he moved with his family at the age of seven. His early footballing prowess was quickly recognized, leading him to stints with Southampton and Chelsea’s academies.
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In an interview with BILD, Musiala shared a pivotal moment that cemented his connection with the German national team. He revealed a private picture taken by his mother during a visit to Stuttgart in 2011, which captures a young Musiala proudly pointing to the DFB logo on the German national team bus, signifying his early affinity for Germany.
Musiala dumps Super Eagles, Three Lions for Germany
Speaking about the picture in question, Muusiala told BILD, "I don’t remember much about it, but the photo is really cool. My mom takes a lot of photos. It’s great that she captured this moment.” The visit coincided with a memorable match where Germany defeated Brazil 3-2 in Stuttgart, featuring goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Gotze, and Andre Schurrle. Reflecting on the game, Musiala added, "Back then, I was already a big Germany fan; I always wore a jersey."
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When the time came to choose between playing for England or Germany at the senior level, Musiala's decision was influenced by his longstanding connection to the German national team, and the Bayern Munich star confirmed this saying, “In the end, I listened to the feeling that has been telling me for a long time that it is the right decision to play for Germany, the country where I was born. But it was not an easy decision.”
Since making the decision to represent Germany, Musiala has played 30 times for the national team despite being only 21-years-old, and has already made appearances at the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championships.
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