Already more playing time than 2024/25
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In June 2024, around two months before he signed with Brighton & Hove Albion, the then Mainz player Brajan Gruda was intensively linked to FC Bayern. The 21-year-old winger confirmed in an interview with the broadcaster “Sky” that these were not just rumors. “Of course there was interest at the beginning. But I can’t say anything more about it,” explained Gruda when asked about the Munich team.
At that time, Brighton put a fee of 31.5 million euros on the table for the offensive talent, and Bayern’s interest was even talking about a 50 million price tag. In the long term, Gruda would like to play the Champions League at a “top club like Bayern, Real, Barcelona or Liverpool”. Even if it isn’t the premier class yet, the intention in Brighton this year is to reach the European Cup. However, the Seagulls are currently in twelfth place, a little behind the qualifying places.
“Our goal is of course to play in Europe and that’s where we want to end up at the end of the season,” said Gruda. “We have to look from game to game, give 100 percent, take home the three points and then it can work.”
Brighton’s Gruda hopes for Nagelsmann’s call
He himself has significantly more influence on achieving good results this season than last year, which was primarily used to get used to it. With 896 minutes of play across all competitions spread over 20 appearances (3 goals/3 assists), the former zero-five player has already collected more than in the entire previous season (879).
If his performance is right, Gruda, who has been a regular in the German U21 team in recent years, is also expecting a call from the national coach. So far he has had “no contact” with Julian Nagelsmann. “The performance has to be right. And I try to give 100 percent. Of course it’s a dream. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a dream. Who doesn’t want to play in the World Cup. That’s why I give everything and see what happens.”
