BERLIN (AP) — Jamal Musiala stands out as Bayern Munich’s most important player this season. The club hopes the young German star will stay in the team for a long time.

Musiala’s contract with the Bavarian powerhouse expires at the end of the 2025-26 season, so there is still plenty of time for the parties to agree an extension.

But his form this season has added urgency to the matter. Musiala is playing better than ever, putting pressure on Bayern’s decision-makers to commit the player to the club before he is lured away by the opposition.

Bayern lost Toni Kroos and David Alaba to Real Madrid after failing to extend their contracts, while Robert Lewandowski was transferred to Barcelona in 2022. refuse to sign a new agreementThere was one year left to finish.

Musiala is much younger and Bayern describe the 21-year-old striker as the future face of the club at all costs. Bayern has always prioritized good financial management and has consistently record revenues.

“Jamal is an outstanding player (but) this is not the time to talk about extending his contract,” Bayern’s sporting director Max Eberl said recently after the team beat Mainz 4-0 in the German Cup and Musiala scored a hat-trick.

After that match, Musiala poked fun at teammate Harry Kane and gave a mock interview where he talked about “another special night” and “a fantastic performance from the whole team against a really tough opponent” and then added “we’ll keep going… We want to keep this momentum going.”

Kane often gives versions of the same interview after matches.

The English striker scored 11 goals in the Bundesliga for Bayern this season, but it is claimed that Musiala is the name that makes the difference for the team. And he’s constantly adding new skills to his repertoire.

Musiala will play for Bayern away to St. Louis on Saturday. He scored an uncharacteristic strike from distance to beat Pauli 1-0, extending the team’s winning streak to five matches in all competitions.

Musiala said about his shot that went under the crossbar: “It was the first goal I scored from outside the penalty area this year.” “We tried shooting from distance a little bit in training. That’s why I’m even happier today.”

Musiala had been pushing his limits all season long. The Bavarian strongman started the Bundesliga season with a 3-2 win over Wolfsburg and scored Bayern’s opening goal. Despite taking a break due to injury, he scored a total of five goals and scored two more in the Bundesliga.

He also scored with a header in Bayern’s 1-0 Champions League win over Benfica (another innovation).

Musiala celebrated by touching his head, as if he himself was surprised to score a goal with a header. He usually scores goals by running towards defenders, causing panic in the opposition defense by using his speed, remarkable balance, unpredictable direction and technical ability with the ball. Most defenders already know that Musiala has a precise punch and can score from any angle.

The winner against Benfica was his second headed goal this season, including his hat-trick against Mainz.

“I think I’ve taken steps forward,” Musiala said. “Last year I was a little lacking in terms of goals and assists, but now I’m adding that. “I’m also trying to get in better shape so I can play many games in a row.”

Asked whether Musiala was gathering arguments for a contract extension, Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund said the player “already has a lot of arguments.”

Freund preferred to focus on the player’s present rather than his future.

“We’ve been saying for the last few weeks that he’s getting head shots now. And now he scores from distance; You don’t see that every day,” Freund said. “It was another great goal. The goals he scores are also important. He’s in super shape.”

Musiala will next have Nations League matches against Germany and Bosnia-Herzegovina and Hungary, while the Bundesliga continues on November 22 when Bayern host Augsburg.

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