Has the time come for Bayern Munich to unleash Mathys Tel?

Mathys Tel has scored every 52 minutes for Bayern Munich this season. Has the time come for Thomas Tuchel to start the French striker in every game?

There was certainly a risk when former Bayern Munich director of sport Hasan Salihamidzic paid €20 million for Mathys Tel last summer. Only 17, Tel had played just ten competitive fixtures for Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais.

“Of course, predicting what will happen to a prospect is always hard,” Ronan Caroff, Area Manager for Transfermarkt in France, said to Gegenpressing one year ago just before Bayern Munich signed Tel. “But I would not be surprised if he becomes part of the rotation at some point this upcoming season.”

In the article, Caroff drew parallels to former France star Thierry Henry but also saw a bit of Robert Lewandowski in Tel. “Henry is Tel’s idol, and looking at the highlights from the [2022] U17 Euros, you can see the similarities, especially in his ability to break free from defenders, finding space behind the backline,” Caroff said.  

The article also pointed out some parallels to a certain Alphonso Davies. Like Davies, Tel was signed as a project for a significant fee by Salihamidzic. Also, like Davies, there was an understanding that the Frenchman would need some time to develop and become an important part of the first team. But there is a final stage to the Davies equation—a consistent starting role in Bayern’s first XI.

There is undoubtedly a feeling around the club that it is only a question of time for head coach Thomas Tuchel to start Tel. After all, Tel has scored six goals and one assist in just 309 minutes spread over 11 games. In other words, the 18-year-old has scored every 52 minutes this season.