Sports director Max Eberl was once again enthusiastic about Karl: “He has that special quality. He plays a very, very important role for us.” Karl’s carefree and outstanding performances are no longer an exception for the record champions, but are almost the rule.
The strong dribbling offensive player, who is advised by former DFB captain Michael Ballack, has scored five goals in 20 competitive appearances for the record champions so far. In addition, Karl has recently made his way into the starting eleven and has been in the starting line-up four times in the last five competitive games.
The young star, who recently made his debut in the U21s and scored three goals there, is now even considered a candidate for a World Cup nomination for the senior national team. With his next gala appearance in the premier class, “King Karl” further fueled the debate that has sparked in recent weeks.
Would he expect a message from national coach Julian Nagelsmann after a game like this? “I don’t believe that yet, no,” said Karl modestly. Eberl also expressed caution: “He performs well, he scores goals. Those are his arguments. What happens in the summer is not our decision.”
If he keeps his form, Nagelsmann will actually no longer be able to get past Karl. Joshua Kimmich also sees it that way. “If you perform at Bayern Munich, then that’s a statement,” said the captain of the German national team when asked what he would advise the national coach with a view to Karl’s possible World Cup nomination. Kimmich pointed out that Karl had currently “slid into” the starting eleven for the record champions and concluded unequivocally: “A regular player at Bayern Munich, especially now, the way we are currently playing, then also belongs in the national team!”
A nomination and participation in the World Cup for Karl would no longer be a surprise, but would almost be a logical decision. With his gala performances, Bavaria’s super talent Nagelsmann leaves little choice.
Markus Weinzierl, the sporting director at the Bayern campus, said in an interview with t-online at the beginning of May after Karl’s brace against Borussia Dortmund’s U19s with a view to his possible breakthrough with the Bayern professionals: “We cannot prevent him.” Regarding Karl’s rapid development with the record champions, Weinzierl was right. And as it looks at the moment, the same now also applies to the step into the German national team. There, too, Karl is unpreventable with such achievements.