Who is Mathys Tel? New sensation helping Bayern forget Lewandowski
FT Desk
- 29 Oct 2022 22:30 BST
- 3 min read
How to replace a club legend like Robert Lewandowski?
That was the dilemma Bayern Munich faced this summer, after the Poland ace walked out on the Allianz Arena and signed with Barcelona.
The Bundesliga giants reacted quickly to the loss, swooping for Sadio Mane to join an already star-studded squad in Bavaria and ensure Lewandowski's absence would not be felt too keenly this season.
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But they are also planning for the future, and in that future Mathys Tel looks set to play a big part.
Tel, 17, is also a new face at Bayern, having arrived in July from Rennes.
The forward had played just seven senior games for the Ligue 1 side but had shown enough to convince Die Roten, who splashed out €28.5 million and signed him to a five-year deal.
But while Tel's acquisition may have been made more with an eye to the future, he is wasting no time in endearing himself to his new club.
The France Under-19 international scored on his full debut for Bayern at the start of August and now boasts three goals in all competitions, the latest coming off the bench during Saturday's 6-2 thrashing of Mainz that took Julian Nagelsmann's charges to the top of the Bundesliga standings.
Attacking talent to spare
Even with Lewandowski out Bayern are not exactly short of options up front. As well as Mane the reigning German champions can also count on the goalscoring talents of Eric Choupo-Moting and the contributions of Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry, all of whom have raced to more than five strikes to make up the deficit left by his departure.
Tel, then, may have to wait for his chance to become a regular starter with so many proficient players ahead; but Bayern are counting on him making a big impression.
“I’m sure that Mathys Tel will also show what he can do this season," Bayern director Hasan Salihamidzic signalled to Bild.
"We’re very well equipped in the attacking area. We have an attack that can keep up in Europe — or can even be the best."
So far Salihamidzic appears to have hit the mark with his prediction, as Bayern go from strength to strength - while Lewandowski suffers the unfamiliar blow of seeing his Champions League hopes end before Christmas.
Tel will have to remain patient, but he and his team-mates are doing everything possible to ensure that Bayern will have no more cause to mourn their departed striker in what is shaping up to be another formidable season at the Allianz Arena.
Read more about: Bundesliga, Bayern
