By DAN KARELL
Julian Green’s confidence is likely sky high after being invited to train with the Bayern Munich first team in Qatar.
The German-American was one of three youngsters invited to join the first team squad in its training camp in Qatar during the Bundesliga winter break. Green was given an additional boost when Bayern sporting director Mathias Sammer said the club has “faith” in him to remain with the first team.
“First of all it’s a signal from the coach and the club that we continue to believe in two pillars, established pros on the one hand and talented youngsters on the other,” Sammer told Bayern’s official website. “These three (Green, Alessandro Schöpf and Ylli Sallahi) have put themselves forward and they’re coming along very well.
“We have faith in all three, but now it’s up to them. They have to go for it.”
The 18-year-old Green made his first-team debut last November as a late substitute in the UEFA Champions League and signed his first professional contract earlier that month.
Green is still eligible to represent either the USA or Germany at the international level, and though he’s currently in Germany, U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said last month that he was continuing to speak with Green about potentially joining the U.S. going forward.
The Tampa, Fla., native lit up the Regionalliga over the last five months, scoring 15 goals in 18 matches to lead the Bayern Munich Under-23s in that category. Green was also included in the Bayern squad at the Club World Cup, though he didn’t make an appearance.
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What do you think of this news? Do you expect to see Green remain in the Bayern first team for the rest of the season? Think he could make his Bundesliga debut in 2014?
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