Signed by one of the premier European clubs for a league-record fee, Alphonso Davies has a burden of expectation on his 17-year-old shoulders. The challenge of breaking in at Bayern is immense but there are plenty of well-wishers and believers in the Canadian.
One of the most uniquely-qualified voices to weigh in on the transfer is current Chicago Fire star and Bayern Munich legend Bastian Schweinsteiger. He knows better than most in the world what it takes to succeed in Bavaria and thinks Davies has what it takes – as long as he continues to put in the work.
“He has great potential with his speed, with his technique," Schweinsteiger told German outlet Bild. "If he works hard, especially on his defense, of course he can make it in Europe.”
Schweinsteiger, like Davies, is no stranger to the wunderkind label. A product of Bayern's academy, Schweinsteiger broke into their first team when he was 18-years-old and stayed on the team sheet for more than a decade. All in all, Schweinsteiger went on to make 500 appearances for the club, winning eight Bundesliga titles, seven German Cups and a Champions League before heading to Manchester United, then Chicago.
Davies, like Schweinsteiger, quickly ascended from academy hopeful to one of the most sought-after teenagers in the world. Bayern beat a host of clubs rumored to be in contention for Davies' signature.
After showing flashes of his endless potential in 2017, Davies has begun to add a consistent end product to his game this season. Davies has three goals and eight assists in 1,509 minutes over 20 appearances in 2018.
Contributing goals and assists on a regular basis is a hurdle that many talented young attackers fail to clear. That will ultimately have a big say in whether or not Davies makes it at Bayern.
For now, the starlet will finish out his season in MLS before turning 18 in November and heading to his new home in the winter. Whenever he does make his Bayern debut, Schweinsteiger will be watching.
