Pavlovic nomination: DFB only became active following a tip-off from FC Bayern

Aleksandar Pavlovic is about to make his debut for the German national team. But it almost didn’t happen. Without FC Bayern, the 19-year-old might have pulled on the Serbian jersey.

FC Bayern gave the all-clear on Sunday. Aleksandar Pavlovic did not suffer a major head injury in his collision in Darmstadt and is available for the DFB team. This clears the way for the talented midfielder to make his national team debut in the international matches against France on Saturday and the Netherlands the following Tuesday.

The fact that Pavlovic is in the squad at all is probably also down to FC Bayern. As reported by kicker, the DFB only made an effort to recruit the talented player after being tipped off by the record champions. The FCB was not unaware of the Serbian association’s fierce courtship of the 19-year-old.

Born in Munich, he has both citizenships. His mother is German, his father Serbian. Pavlovic only played for a junior national team for the first time last November, when Hannes Wolf called him up for two U20 international matches. Shortly before that, he had celebrated his Bundesliga debut for Bayern.

According to Sky, the DFB planned his next step to be playing for the U21s under Antonio di Salvo. The Serbian association had long been courting Pavlovic and was in contact with his parents.

Serbs made representations to Pavlovic’s parents

In the second half of the Bundesliga season, Pavlovic’s performances earned him a permanent place in the Bayern starting eleven. The Serbs‘ endeavours became more and more intensive. A delegation led by national team director Stefan Stojanovic came to Munich with an invitation for the upcoming senior internationals against Russia and Cyprus. Pavlovic cancelled because he did not want to commit himself to an association yet.

But the Serbs stepped up the pressure and even released a statement after Pavlovic’s outstanding performance in the Champions League second leg against Lazio Roma. At the last second, the DFB changed its mind. Instead of nominating Pavlovic for the U21s as planned, national coach Julian Nagelsmann surprisingly called him up for the important international matches against France and the Netherlands ahead of the home European Championships.

As these are friendlies, Pavlovic has not yet officially confirmed his place. After being nominated, however, he declared his support for the DFB: „My plan was not to decide between Germany and Serbia until after this year’s European Championship. I had to make this decision immediately.“

Nothing now stands in the way of Pavlovic’s international career in the DFB team. Apparently also thanks to FC Bayern.