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Green signs first professional contract with Bayern Munich

JulianGreenCelebratesGoal2BayernMunich (Getty)

By DAN KARELL

With 15 goals in his first 17 games for Bayern Munich’s U-23 team, the German giants have seen enough to offer Julian Green his first professional contract.

The club announced on Friday that the 18-year-old forward has signed with Bayern Munich through June 2017, rewarding Green for his impressive work on the field for the reserves and for the first team during training and in games during preseason friendly matches. Green signed his contract along with Bayern II teammate Alessandro Schöpf.

“Alessandro and Julian are two huge talents who have what it takes to make it in the professional game,” Bayern Munich executive Matthias Sammer said in a statement. “We’re delighted these junior internationals have committed to FC Bayern. In turn, the professional contracts are the reward for their ambition and excellent performances in our second team.”

The German-American is still eligible for both the U.S. Men’s National Team and the German National Team, though if he wants to play for the USA in the future he must file a one-time switch with FIFA. Green is set to join the Germany Under-19 squad next week for two friendly matches against France.

Green had originally accepted a call-up to the USMNT from head coach Jurgen Klinsmann before realizing that he wouldn’t be able to play without filing a one-time switch. The Tampa, Fla. native eventually changed his mind and chose to join the Germany U-19s for a camp in France, though Klinsmann has kept the door open for Green to join the USMNT when he’s ready.

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What do you think of this news? Happy to see Green earn a contract with Bayern? Do you see him moving into the first team later this year? Do you see Bayern loaning him away for more first team opportunities? How does this impact his potential USMNT status?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. To the average fans, soccer is just a game. However, athletics is a profession to these guys first and foremost. He will likely make whatever decision advances his career the most.

    Reply
  2. Let’s face it, if he’s good enough to play for Germany he will.
    If he’s not he’ll hold a press conference and talk about how it was always his dream to play for the US and he’ll kiss the crest whenever he scores a goal just like all the other Germans have done.
    To me that’s chicken crap but to each its own.

    Reply
    • Why does it matter??????? Whyyy? I suppose you think kids like Ben Lederman or Josh Pynadath should have stayed and developed their games in the US instead of going to Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively? The competition is simply better in Europe, every young American player that has a chance to join a club academy in Europe should jump at the chance. Player development has improved greatly over the last decade, but Europe is still lightyears ahead of us.

      Reply
      • Diego Costa played in Spain for years before he switched sides.
        Green has absolutely not relation to US soccer and is waiting to see if he’s good enough for Germany before making his decision.

  3. I honestly don’t care. Why does everyone gat all hyped up over player who MAY choose the US? Let’s focus on the guy who WANT to play for us. Not the ones who only consider it as Plan B.

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    • I heard that Preston Zimmerman is still available and wants to play for the USMNT. But on a serious note, how many players we have in our pipeline that have a professional contract with Bayern or another team of a similar caliber (i.e., top 5 in the world)? This kid got it at the age of 18.

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      • Are you seriously suggesting that the main problem with our youth development system is deficient scouting by European clubs?

  4. It’s worth noting that signing your first pro contract is just the beginning.

    Better players than Green have gone on to be total busts.

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    • So let me see, the guy grows up almost entirely in Germany, learns to play soccer in Germany, develops exclusively at German Club & Country. But you argue that the US “grows” a world class talent, pathetic. If anything it is a testament to the german youth development system in place.

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      • Does it matter how it’s done? Germans teach their kids to play. Our soccer youth development program relies heavily on US military being stationed in Germany. Whatever works. The end result is all that matters. Just ask most of the people here.

      • so this is what the Cold War was all about? Getting our boys to have relations with German women to breed superior footballers. Interesting

      • The only thing that is pathetic is Alex’s inability to see the sarcasm dripping off that post. I’m with DanO on this one. Alex, do yourself a favor and stay away from steel bear traps and Chinese finger traps.

    • I don’t think it really matters. What matters is how he develops and how soon he gets a real look by Germany. He’s in the queue, but he isn’t the #1 choice on his U19 team. He will have to do some work to get to the front of the line.

      Athletic ego plays in our favor. Sure, he feels he is (or can be) good enough to be on one of the top teams in the world. But that will take time and a bit of luck with timing. The US can play on his impatience to get that exposure. If in a couple of years, he isn’t in the Mannschaft’s plans, he will more openly consider the US option that will get him closer to the first team.

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      • Athletic ego would make him want to play for the best team possible.
        Let’s hope he doesn’t think to highly of himself and picks the US instead

      • most players think too highly of themselves. but if he thought too low of himself. that would also be bad. Let’s hope he feels to represent whoever he feels closest too, that way no one gets hurt

      • very much true that most athletes overestimate their ability, and as soon as he realizes he isn’t first choice for Germany, the USA will have him

      • But “athletic ego” also tells him that he isn’t willing to wait – that he should be playing now. You have competing factors that often play into our hands because a good player can get closer to the full NT faster than with Germany. Considering how few chances a player might have to make a WC, there is a bias to joining the shorter line.

    • Well, his Dad is all for him playing for the USA. So I think that helps us. Rossi was heavily influenced by his dad, maybe will get one back.

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      • Rossi’s dad wanted him to play for Italy because they’re better. If Green’s father knew anything about football he would want him to play for Germany.

      • Actually, he’s right. His father was an immigrant, and had stronger ties to Italy than America. Not xenophobia, just reality.

      • I’m not sure where people get the idea that it’s fair to criticize people for the personal or professional choices they make (or who or who is not a “real” American for that matter). If someone has a choice, it’s their choice (whether by law or by FIFA rules). Whether they make those choices for personal or professional reasons is up to them. I think it’s fair to criticize coaches or executives who failed to either entice or properly demonstrate that a certain national team is the best choice for a top player, but beyond that, who is anyone to say what a player should or shouldn’t do?

        You can rip into a player if you want, and people are entitled to their opinion, but in my opinion, you don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.

      • I don’t understand Good Jeremy or MLSsnobs comments. Rossi’s parents were (are, I guess I should say?) Italian immigrants. What Eric B said is pretty common knowledge, or so I’ve always thought. Of course Rossi’s dad wanted him to play for Italy. If Cruz Beckham grows up to be a soccer player, I’m sure his dad would want him to play for England.

      • …how could you possibly make a statement like, “…If Green’s father knew anything about football he would want him to play for Germany.” with the information that you have? You have no idea the amount of knowledge he holds. Julian Green’s father has probably forgot more about “football” than you will ever know. Him constantly saying he wants his son to play for the Yanks has to do with the fact that he spent a significant portion of his life helping protect that very country. Bottom line is, for as proud as his son makes him(as witnessed on his twitter feed) he is not taking a passive approach to Julian’s career, he is more than likely living vicariously through is son like most proud fathers do, meaning he is beyond familiar with the landscape of club and international soccer.

      • Green`s father may have spent a signigicant portion of his life protecting the US. But he only spent little time raising his son.

      • Do you know the details of Green’s personal biography? Sounds like you’re assumin that he got “Mrs. Green” preggers and split.

      • Well, from what is known, Julian Green was born in Tampa, then his parents split and he moved back to Germany with his mother at the age of 2.
        Mr Green hasn`t twittered anything regarding his ex-wife yet. But I`m sure he will one day.
        I think it is irresponsible of JG`s father to talk to the press. That`s something parents of 18 yo kids, who still have to get used to the public limelight, should not do. JG has his own agents…

      • That’s like saying you want your kid to go to community college instead of Harvard because that’s where you went.

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