Overview
- Seventeen-year-old Lennart Karl scored and provided an assist in Bayern’s 2-1 win over Grasshoppers Zürich to cap a standout preseason that included a goal against Tottenham and a start versus Lyon.
- Karl’s performances secured a contract extension through 2028 and underscore Bayern’s shift toward strengthening their internal talent pipeline rather than relying solely on transfer market solutions.
- Sporting director Max Eberl and sports director Christoph Freund emphasized a policy of continuous integration, citing Karl and 16-year-old Wisdom Mike as key homegrown prospects for the first team.
- Coach Vincent Kompany fielded a youth-focused lineup in Zurich while managing the workload of established players such as Manuel Neuer, Harry Kane and Luis Díaz ahead of competitive fixtures.
- Bayern now turns to the Franz-Beckenbauer-Supercup against VfB Stuttgart on Saturday with Kingsley Coman ruled out through illness and reports linking him with a move to Saudi Arabia.