There is intense competition in FC Bayern’s midfield. With Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic, and Tom Bischof, the Munich club has three German national team players who are also vying for playing time with the DFB. But while there has recently been public discussion about the optimal lineup in central midfield, the relationship between the three Bayern stars is apparently excellent.
As reported by BILD, Kimmich, Pavlovic, and Bischof aren’t letting the discussions surrounding the national team rattle them. Rather, all three are aware that they need each other to achieve their shared goals at FC Bayern and on the DFB team.
The relationship between Kimmich and Bischof is particularly interesting. The Bayern captain is said to have actively supported the 21-year-old even before his move to Munich.
Kimmich reached out to Bischof personally
When it became known in the spring of 2025 that Bischof would be transferring from TSG Hoffenheim to FC Bayern, Kimmich was, according to BILD, among the first players to reach out to the youngster.
The experienced midfielder sent his future teammate a personal WhatsApp message.
In it, Kimmich expressed his great respect for Bischof’s decision to make the move to Germany’s record champion at such a young age.
He drew parallels to his own career. After all, Kimmich himself had joined FC Bayern as a young player in 2015 without having played a single Bundesliga match beforehand.
In essence, he encouraged Bischof by explaining that he had never regretted his decision at the time. He is convinced that Bischof could have the same experience.
Bayern Captain as a Mentor for Bischof
According to BILD, this initial contact led to a special bond developing between the two midfielders.
Kimmich continues to support Bischof to this day and acts as a sort of mentor to him.
This is particularly noteworthy given the competitive situation on the field. After all, Bischof is considered one of the most promising young German midfielders and hopes to earn a starting spot in the long run.
For Kimmich, however, this does not seem to be a problem. Instead of keeping his younger rival at a distance, he helps him develop.
Pavlovic is also said to view the relationship within the midfield group as extremely positive. Despite the competition, shared success is clearly the top priority for the three Bayern pros.