Thomas Tuchel slammed over treatment of Man Utd transfer target: ‘It’s a slap in the face’ | Football

The 18-year-old has shown plenty of promise following his €28.5 million (£24.4m) move from Rennes in July 2022 but has started just one Bundesliga game in nearly two seasons at Bayern.

Reports in Germany have claimed that Manchester United are keeping tabs on Tel’s situation at Bayern, while the player’s advisor is refusing to rule out the possibility of a transfer this summer.

And Matthaus insists Tel should have been given more playing time by Tuchel.

‘Before the Bochum game, I thought about why this young player, who always performed when he came in, didn’t actually get more playing time,’ Matthaus said in an interview with Abendzeitung Munich.

‘If three players are out, it’s a slap in the face for a young player when the second centre-forward [Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting] is preferred and Musiala and Muller play in positions that they might not necessarily be in want to play.

‘That’s nothing against Thomas Tuchel, he sometimes just has a different attitude to players and positions than I do, but according to my football mind, Tel shouldn’t have played until the last quarter of an hour.

‘For me, Tel is someone who has the Bayern Munich DNA.

‘He didn’t get enough playing time – not just in Bochum, but also at the beginning of the season when he scored a lot of goals when he came on. He doesn’t always want to just be a joker.’

Matthaus also urged Bayern to bring in Xabi Alonso as Tuchel’s replacement at the end of the season.

‘There is currently only one main candidate – Xabi Alonso, who is rocking the league with Bayer Leverkusen,’ Matthaus said.

‘He knows FC Bayern from his time as a player and would be a perfect fit. It is currently an obligation for every top club to have Alonso on their list.

‘For me, Leverkusen is the outstanding team in all of Europe. The team plays attractively and confidently and has not lost a game yet.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.