Mathys Tel for Germany? This statement dispels all doubts

Mathys Tel has clearly expressed his support for the French national team at the French Football Association FFF. As part of his arrival at France’s U21 national team, for which Tel was invited for the first time by coach Thierry Henry, the 18-year-old said on Monday: “I’m very happy to be here. The feeling of representing France: there’s nothing better.”

The DFB’s flirtation with the young striker, who started at FC Bayern, recently made waves in France. Football France has been in turmoil ever since Julian Nagelsmann, Tel’s first coach at FC Bayern, was promoted to national coach by the DFB. This is what French media like reported L’Équipe, Foot Mercato and Onze Mondial about the public DFB flirtation with the young Frenchman.

DFB director Rudi Völler, who was in the dugout as team boss during the DFB team’s 2-1 win against France, said at the weekend Picture TV: “You can certainly try,” regarding Tel’s possible naturalization in Germany.

Because Tel moved to Munich as a minor at the age of 17 in the summer of 2022, naturalization would take place faster than the usual eight years. The Picture recently reported that Tel could possibly play for Germany as early as 2025.

Plus, Tel already speaks German, like him proved impressive in a video interview with Bayern’s club channels during the 2023 summer break. “Speaking German is very important for me,” explained Tel. After all, he had to be able to communicate during training: “At the beginning it was very, very difficult. But now it’s much better.” In German, Tel also raved about the Mia-san-Mia feeling and the work ethic of his teammate Joshua Kimmich.

But it was precisely in that interview in June, shortly after Tel’s 18th birthday, that the Bayern striker himself made it clear which country his heart beats for: “I have a big dream: I want to play for the French national team.”

After SPORT1-Information, a move to the DFB is not an issue for him. He feels comfortable in Munich, but he definitely wants to work for them Equipe Tricolore accrue.

Mathys Tel was born on April 27, 2005 in the Paris suburb of Sarcelles and trained in the youth ranks of Stade Rennes. The striker has scored 17 goals in 27 games for France’s youth national teams and became U17 European champions with France.

Tel could make his debut for France’s U21 national team on Friday, October 13th (Bosnia vs. France) or Tuesday, October 17th (France vs. Cyprus).

Henry, coach of the French U21 team and once a world-class striker himself, praised Tel in a press conference: “When he comes into a game, you see him. He scores goals. He already has what you sometimes need to tell a striker.”

And senior national coach Didier Deschamps already has the rising star on his radar: “What he does is very interesting, this ability to be efficient with limited playing time.”