Three Bayern Munich players on The Guardian’s Next Generation 2020 list

The Guardian released its Next Generation 2020 list, which features 60 of the top young talents in the world. Among those selected were three Bayern Munich players: Jamal Musiala, Torben Rhein, and Liam Morrison. Below are the write-ups on each Bayern Munich player that was selected:

Jamal Musiala, Midfielder

Life keeps getting better for the teenager who was born in Fulda in central Germany to a German mother and Nigerian father. Having left Chelsea’s academy last summer, Musiala progressed swiftly through Bayern’s age-group sides and has been part of Hansi Flick’s first-team squad since the restart, becoming the youngest player to make a Bundesliga appearance for the club against Freiburg in June. The elegant attacking midfielder – who moved to England at the age of seven and attended Whitgift School in Croydon – surpassed Roque Santa Cruz as Bayern’s youngest-ever goalscorer in the 8-0 demolition of Schalke in September and has been earmarked by his manager as a potential star of the future for club and country. Whether that will be England or Germany is still yet to be resolved, however, with Musiala having represented both at youth level and struck up a close friendship with Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham on international duty. “I would certainly try to get him,” said Flick. “But it is his decision. He has clear ideas.” — Ed Aarons, The Guardian

Torben Rhein, Attacking Midfielder (U-19)

Rhein is one of the most promising talents in Bayern Munich’s youth academy, and having progressed through the youth ranks in June he made his debut in Bayern’s second team. Rhein is classic No 10 with one extraordinary talent: he can take dangerous set-pieces with either foot, which presents goalkeepers with an unusual challenge. He is very good on the ball, has a great vision on the pitch, and has captained Germany at various age levels. As he measures only 5ft 8in, he lacks a little bit of physical presence. He won the silver Fritz Walter Medal, presented annually to Germany’s most promising young players, in 2020. Carsten Schröter-Lorenz, editor at Kicker.de

Liam Morrison, Defender (U-19)

Bayern’s focus on Scottish youth players has raised hopes that standards might be improving within a nation which has struggled in recent years to produce high-class footballers. Celtic weren’t at all keen to lose Morrison from their system at the age of 16, with the centre half quickly promoted into Bayern’s under-19 setup. “He has all the potential to be a Champions League centre-back,” says Brian McLaughlin, Morrison’s Scotland youth coach. “I believe their academy people have likened him to a young Mats Hummels and I think it is a good comparison. You have a centre-back who is equally comfortable playing on the right or the left and has the ability to beat a man if he has to.” Ewan Murray, The Guardian

Other notable selections include:

• Ardy Mfundu, Schlake 04 — Defender
• Luca Netz, Hertha Berlin — Left-back/left wing
• Florian Wirtz, Bayer Leverkusen — Attacking midfielder