Bayern Munich star admits he was inspired by current Manchester United player, who won’t be playing tonight

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Bayern Munich ace Jamal Musiala admits Jadon Sancho’s Bundesliga success played a big part in his move to Germany ahead of tonight’s Champions League decider with Manchester United.

If Jadon Sancho had the good sense to keep his head down let his football do the talking, two of the most naturally-gifted attackers in Europe may have been going head-to-head at Old Trafford this evening.

Sancho’s hopes of playing a key role in such high-pressure fixtures fizzled away, however, once the £73 million signing from Borussia Dortmund refused to row back on his very public criticism of Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, however. Sancho has not played a single minute in the group-stage, and looks destined to depart in January.

Musiala’s career, in contrast, is heading in a very different direction. Arguably the most exciting young midfielder in the game not called Jude Bellingham, it was Musiala who fired Bayern to the Bundesliga title on the final day of a dramatic 2022/23 campaign.

Jadon Sancho out of favour at Manchester United

Like former Manchester City starlet Sancho, Musiala moved to Germany after eight years in Chelsea’s academy. And, speaking to Kicker, the latter admits that the success of the former in the yellow-and-black of BVB played a role in his decision to put pen to paper with the reigning Bundesliga champions back n 2019.

“A little, yeah,” Musiala explains when asked if Sancho was something of an inspiration for him.

“You see how well he was doing after the move from England to Germany, and seeing how well he was doing in the Bundesliga was nice to see. It gives us a little boost in your confidence that I could make it as well.”

United face Bayern Munich test

Musiala and Sancho are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to English-based youngsters turning their back on the Premier League in favour of more regular first-team football in Germany. Jamie Bynoe-Gittons is going from strength to strength at Dortmund, while Bellingham also moved to the banks of the Ruhr after holding talks over a move to Man United at the start of 20220.

Ten Hag’s Red Devils need to beat Musiala’s Bayern and hope for a draw between Copenhagen and Galatasaray, meanwhile, if they are to play Champions League knock-out stage football in the spring.