Musiala's Return, Freund's Future, and Kane's Champions League Ambitions

Bayern Munich’s week has been defined by three storylines: a prodigy being eased back into the spotlight, a sporting director weighing up his next step, and a world-class striker who refuses to think about the end until he has lifted the one trophy that still haunts him.

Musiala back – but on a tight plan

Jamal Musiala finally pulled a Bayern shirt on in a competitive game again last Saturday. It felt overdue.

The 23-year-old came off the bench in the 57th minute of the 0-0 draw at Schalke, replacing Lennart Karl. The game itself never caught fire, and little truly came off for Musiala with the ball. But the impression mattered more than the stats: he looked sharp, eager, and physically robust. He wanted duels. He sought the ball. He didn’t hide.

It was his first appearance since a deeply worrying spell a few weeks earlier. Collapses in two friendly matches, triggered by a neurological dysfunction, had forced Bayern to pull him out of the firing line. He then missed three key fixtures: the Supercup in Dortmund against Borussia Dortmund (2-1), the Bundesliga opener against VfB Stuttgart (5-1) and the DFB Cup first-round tie at VfL Osnabrück (3-1).

“After the incidents, we gave him some of the calm he needed,” said Bayern’s board member for sport Max Eberl after the draw at Schalke.

The club adjusted his medication and, only after talks between doctors, coaching staff and the player himself, cleared him for a return. The message from Eberl was clear: once Musiala is in the squad, he is a real option. Bayern want him back as the player “that he decides matches for us.”

The comeback, though, will not be rushed.

According to Bild, Bayern have mapped out a step-by-step plan. Musiala is expected to build up his minutes gradually and will be handed regular breaks to manage his workload. Everything is being coordinated closely with coach Vincent Kompany. The aim is simple: no shortcuts, no risks, but a steady climb back to the level where Musiala can once again tilt big games on his own.

Freund in demand – and in “consideration mode”

While Musiala’s path is clearly defined, Christoph Freund’s next move is less straightforward.

As reported by the Münchner Abendzeitung, Bayern want to extend the contract of their sporting director, currently running until 2027, and ideally wrap things up before the annual general meeting in November. With chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen and Max Eberl already tied down beyond next summer, the club want to lock in their leadership trio by securing the Austrian’s long-term commitment.

Freund, though, is described as being in a “consideration phase.” One factor stands out: the future of chief scout Nils Schmadtke. Like Freund, Schmadtke is under contract until 2027 and is regarded as a close confidant of Eberl. Should Schmadtke leave, AZ report that Freund would have the chance to appoint a chief scout of his own choosing, reshaping a key part of Bayern’s sporting structure.

Despite these internal dynamics, the mood around Freund is positive. Within the club he is said to enjoy a strong reputation, especially for his work at the Campus, where his influence on youth development and recruitment is particularly appreciated. His relationship with Vincent Kompany is also considered very good – another reason Bayern are keen to secure his signature and avoid uncertainty at the top of their sporting department.

The clock is not yet ticking loudly. But with the AGM approaching and the club eager for stability, the next few weeks will tell whether Freund sees his long-term future in Munich.

Kane’s unfinished business with Europe

On the pitch, the conversation keeps circling back to Harry Kane and a competition that has defined careers and tormented his.

At 33, Kane is chasing the Champions League with a kind of controlled obsession. Ahead of Bayern’s group-stage opener on Thursday (9pm, DAZN) against Bodö/Glimt, he set the tone on TNT Sports: this season, it “has to be our year.”

“We are very close,” he said, looking back at last season’s run. The semi-final exit against eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain still stings at Säbener Straße. Small margins, decisive moments, and the feeling that Bayern had let a golden chance slip. The club are still hunting their seventh European crown. Kane wants to be at the centre of it.

He knows the Champions League is unforgiving. It is “not just about being the best team,” he pointed out. You need the breaks, the ricochets, the decisions – “the necessary luck at the right moment.” The challenge, as he framed it, is whether Bayern can find that “small difference” that turns a nearly-season into a trophy parade.

That is why he refuses to talk seriously about retirement. Not yet.

“There are still things at club level that I want to win. The same applies to the national team,” said the England captain, who delivered a remarkable 73 goals for Bayern and England last season. The numbers underline his status. The hunger explains his mindset.

For Kane, this phase of his career is not a gentle glide towards the finish line. It is a race against time to complete the list: Champions League with Bayern, major silverware with England. He wants to “savour this moment for as long as possible” – but only if those moments end with medals in his hands.

Musiala is being rebuilt carefully. Freund is weighing his power and his place. Kane is driving towards the one trophy that would change how his entire career is remembered.

For Bayern, the question is no longer whether they have the names. It is whether this structure, this squad and this season can finally deliver the European ending they all crave.