JAMAL MUSIALA had his heart set on playing for England – until an intervention from then-Germany boss Jogi Low helped steal him away.
Die Mannschaft superstar Musiala, who takes on Denmark tomorrow, was born in Stuttgart but moved to the UK at seven.
He represented both England and Germany at Under-15 level but was planning on plumping for the former long-term.
Yet, when Bayern Munich pinched him from Chelsea in 2019, Low went to meet the whizkid along with Bayern’s academy director and sold Musiala his vision of how he could quickly reach the first team for club and country.
Musiala’s old school coach Andrew Martin, who is still close to the player and his family, told SunSport: “It was always going to be England.
“I vividly remember having conversations with him and his dad (Daniel Richard).
“Jamal played for both countries at Under-15s and the report back was that he preferred England.
“He felt more at home there, he played for Chelsea and there were other Chelsea boys in the England squad, and he knew others from playing on the academy circuit.
“But sadly for English football, at 16 Jamal decided not to sign for Chelsea and moved to Bayern Munich.
“I know that that shifted it all, they put it completely the other way.
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“He was playing for Bayern, he was on the academy circuit there. Bayern made a clear pathway.
“I remember at the time Jamal went to meet Jogi Low and the academy director at Bayern.
EURO 2024 has something for everyone from stunning goals, thrilling matches… and the continent’s biggest hunks, writes Jack Figg.
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Thankfully AI boffins have carried out an analysis on the facial attractiveness of all players at the tournament.
And it’s bad news for Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions who are the fourth UGLIEST in the competition – one place below Scotland.
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“They made a clear pathway of how he would get into the Bayern first team and the German first team.
“I think once you meet the first-team manager as a 16-17-year-old, I think your decision is made for you. That’s pretty impressive that they made the time to do that.
“He wanted it to be England but then it was the move to Germany that swayed everything, with the help of Low and the help of the Bayern set-up.
“They made a clear pathway for him and a year later he was playing in the Bayern first team.”
ENGLAND football stars will be hoping their other halves will bring them good luck in Germany this summer and SunSport runs down the new faces to expect to see.
Erica Correa: We exclusively revealed Man Utd star Marcus Rashford has been growing close to the Colombia-born model.
Laura Celia Valk: The Dutch stunner is rumoured to be dating Jude Bellginham and staying in his Madrid mansion.
Ellie Alderson: The interior designer is with Ollie Watkins, who will be hoping for a place on the plane after missing the last Euros and World Cup.
Dani Dyer: The actor and reality TV star is going out with Jarrod Bowen, who is in fine form and in line for a Euros call up.
Annie Keating: Girlfriend to Anthony Gordon, who is vying for a place in England’s competitive frontline.
Iris Law: The model and daughter to actor Jude sparked romance rumours with Trent Alexander-Arnold after they were spotted together.
