Aleksandar Pavlovic is not only causing a stir at FC Bayern, but is also increasingly becoming the focus of the national team. World champion Bastian Schweinsteiger believes the 21-year-old has a great future in the DFB team – and even goes one step further
In an interview with the Münchner Abendzeitung newspaper, the former DFB captain made it clear what potential he sees in the Bayern youngster. When asked about potential leaders in the national team, Schweinsteiger replied: „Of course, you have to mention Kimmich as a leader first. I would also very much like to see Pavlovic in this role.“
A remarkable assessment – after all, this is one of the most influential midfielders in German soccer history speaking
Impressive development at FC Bayern
Schweinsteiger is particularly impressed by the midfielder’s development at FC Bayern: „He’s developed really well at Bayern and plays a central role there,“ emphasized the 40-year-old
In fact, Pavlovic has developed into a permanent fixture in Munich’s midfield in a very short space of time. His calmness on the ball, his intelligence and his tactical understanding already make him stand out despite his young age
For Schweinsteiger, Pavlovic is already one of the top players in the DFB squad. „We have players at world-class level. I’m thinking in particular of Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Florian Wirtz,“ he explained
An accolade for the 21-year-old, who is now ranked alongside the greatest German attacking and midfield talents
However, Pavlovic has been repeatedly thwarted in the national team so far, with injuries and illness preventing him from developing continuously, including missing the 2024 European Championships at home due to an infection
However, these setbacks should not diminish his prospects – on the contrary: Schweinsteiger sees him as an integral part and potential leader in the DFB team in the long term
Consistency as the key to the World Cup
Looking ahead to the upcoming World Cup, however, the 2014 World Cup winner is calling for more stability throughout the team. „If you want to be successful at a tournament, you have to do your work beforehand,“ he explained, pointing to examples such as Argentina, Spain and Italy, who performed consistently for a long time before winning their titles
For the DFB, this means that players like Pavlovic not only have to showcase their talent, but also deliver at the highest level on a consistent basis
The Bayern professional undoubtedly has the prerequisites for this, and if he continues his development and remains injury-free, he could soon take on a leading role not only at club level, but also in the national team
Schweinsteiger’s words make it clear: Pavlovic is more than just a great talent – he could be the DFB’s next leading player.