Nathaniel Brown has long been impressing at FC Bayern, and not just on his usual left side. Now, another door could be opening for him.
Nathaniel Brown has provided yet another indication of just how versatile he can be at FC Bayern. In the 2-2 draw against FC Augsburg, the 23-year-old came on as a substitute at right back and scored the crucial equalizer from that position.
Brown was actually signed this summer primarily to compete with Alphonso Davies. However, the Canadian has recently regained his form and has the edge on the left side. For Brown, this automatically means a tough battle for playing time.
That’s exactly why his performance in Augsburg may have been particularly valuable for him. Konrad Laimer was absent due to the birth of his child, while Josip Stanisic started on the right and was replaced by Brown in the second half. The newcomer took over the unfamiliar position without any major adjustment issues and then rewarded himself with a goal.
Uli Hoeneß apparently sees this as more than just a stopgap measure. Bayern’s honorary president told BILD about Brown: “He’s shown that he can play in many positions, even behind the striker. He was actually signed as a left fullback, as a replacement for Alphonso Davies, who is playing better and better. He played as a right fullback and scored a decisive goal. I think we’re going to get a lot of joy out of him.”
Brown could change Bayern’s plans on the right side
The right side of the defense, in particular, has been a topic of discussion at FC Bayern for some time. Laimer has established himself there under Vincent Kompany, even though the Austrian actually comes from midfield. Behind him, Stanisic is another option, while Sacha Boey hasn’t played a role on the field recently.
At the same time, the Munich club continues to seek a long-term solution for this position. Most recently, Givairo Read of Feyenoord Rotterdam, among others, has remained a topic of discussion. The 20-year-old has already been on Bayern’s radar on several occasions.
If Brown were to demonstrate that he can play at a high level on the right side not just occasionally but consistently, that would significantly expand Munich’s options. Of course, a single successful appearance wouldn’t automatically make a potential transfer unnecessary. However, it could ease the pressure to sign an additional player at all costs.
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This development would be particularly interesting for Brown himself. Davies has recently re-established himself as a key player on the left side. If Brown has to wait for his chance exclusively there, it could be difficult for him to get enough playing time on a regular basis.
If, on the other hand, he can cover both fullback positions and even play further up the field when needed, his value to Kompany would increase significantly. The Bayern coach would then have a player on the roster whom he could deploy in multiple positions depending on the opponent and the game situation.
It’s still too early to permanently plan on Brown as a right back. However, his performance in Augsburg and Hoeneß’s comments show that his role at FC Bayern could become significantly larger than that of a mere backup for Davies.