FC Bayern’s Asian tour provided Vincent Kompany with more than just important insights ahead of the season opener. Above all, several young players took advantage of the absence of numerous stars to make a lasting impression. In addition to the young players, Tom Bischof and new signing Nathaniel Brown were also among the standouts of the preseason.
While Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and other World Cup participants will join the team later, and numerous injured pros are working on their comebacks in Munich, FC Bayern’s young talents received an unusually large amount of playing time in South Korea and Hong Kong.
Kompany used the opportunity to get a sense of which young players might already be serious options for the first-team roster. Especially given the deliberately small squad, these insights could prove important as the season progresses.
One of the biggest standouts is undoubtedly Bastian Assomo. The center forward, who is just 16 years old, already impressed during preseason training in Munich and confirmed that impression on the Asian tour.
Against Jeju SK, Assomo scored the decisive goal to make it 2–1. Above all, his physical presence—which is exceptional for his age—and his goal-scoring instinct are drawing attention within the club.
Tom Bischof has already expressed his admiration: “It’s incredible for his age how he holds onto the ball, and he has a very good finish.”
Assomo and Cardozo are making their case with Kompany
Assomo, however, isn’t the only Campus player who made the most of the trip. Maycon Cardozo also made a strong case for regular playing time with the pros.
The 17-year-old Brazilian impresses above all with his dynamism, directness, and remarkable physicality. In the 2-1 win over Aston Villa, the winger also displayed composure and didn’t shy away from physical battles with the Premier League pros.
This could lead to an interesting dynamic, particularly on the left side of the attack. Luis Díaz is the starter there for now, with Arijon Ibrahimovic set to serve as backup. Cardozo, however, could emerge as an additional option.
It was already clear during preseason that Kompany and his coaching staff think highly of the youngster. A loan move, which was originally a possibility, is therefore no longer the only option. Instead, Cardozo could stay in Munich and try to earn more playing time with the first team through daily training.
Tim Binder also impressed during the tour. The 19-year-old made the most of his minutes on the field and left a positive impression. Given the fierce competition, however, the road to regular playing time with the first team is likely to remain a long one.
Brown and Bischof are making a strong case for themselves
Among the established players and new signings, Nathaniel Brown and Tom Bischof stand out as the top performers.
Brown benefited from the fact that Alphonso Davies was completing his rehab in Munich and did not travel to Asia. As a result, the new signing received plenty of playing time at left back and demonstrated why Bayern signed him. Offensively, in particular, the 23-year-old repeatedly brought dynamism to the game. At the same time, he already seems to have fully internalized Kompany’s tactical approach.
This points to some real competition on the left side of the defense. Davies remains the undisputed starter, but Brown has made it clear during preseason that he wants to be more than just a traditional backup.
Bischof, for his part, has almost become the leader of the preseason. The 21-year-old was there from the start and took on a lot of responsibility in a team with numerous young players.
In the victory over Aston Villa, he provided the assist for the opening goal with a spectacular cross and repeatedly took charge of the midfield. Following Leon Goretzka’s departure, Bischof is already firmly slated for a bigger role in central midfield.
For Kompany, the Asian tour likely served its purpose. In addition to providing valuable playing time for the established pros, it was primarily the second-string players who made their mark. Assomo and Cardozo demonstrated that Bayern’s deliberately small squad certainly opens up opportunities for the next generation.