Bayern Munich returned to action on Tuesday, playing against RB Salzburg in a winter friendly game. Die Roten cruised to a comfortable 5-0 win as Vincent Kompany’s men got back in rhythm after the winter break. Lennart Karl was once again on the scoresheet for Bayern and delivered a poignant celebration to calm things down after his comments in a recent fan meetup.
Karl admitted that he would like to play for Real Madrid since it is a dream club for him. The 17-year-old insisted that he is enjoying life at Bayern. However, his comment about Real Madrid led to outrage amongst the Bavarian faithful on social media.
Considering it is his breakthrough season at the senior level, Karl didn’t cover himself in glory with those comments. The calm celebrations on Tuesday certainly showed that Karl realised his mistake.
The teenager has not taken long to apologize for his comments behind the scenes. While talking to AZ after Tuesday’s game, Director of Sport Max Eberl insisted that Karl has already apologized for his comments. Eberl insisted that a teenager can make mistakes, and the case is closed at Bayern after Karl realised that he should have been careful with his comments.
"A 17-year-old is allowed to make mistakes. He came to us the next day and said: 'I think I said something not so nice there.' - For us, the matter is settled; it was never a topic. He's showing his performances on the pitch."Max Eberl
Christoph Freund also told the media on Tuesday that Karl has already apologised for his comments. Freund insisted that Karl wears his heart on his sleeve. The youngster is very happy at Bayern. The Bavarian club also considers him part of their long-term future. The youngster has a contract until 2028 at Bayern. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Die Roten extends his contract in the next 12 months.
Christoph Freund reacts to Lennart Karl's statement: "I think that's just Lenny. Anyone who knows Lenny knows that. That's how he plays football too. He 'wears his heart on his sleeve', he 'doesn't give a damn', as we say around here – even on the pitch. He talks like a… pic.twitter.com/IlEuPzgFwb
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) January 6, 2026
Karl can win over fans by performing on the pitch
The 17-year-old has made an unbelievable impact on the pitch for Bayern this season. Karl was starting games consistently by the end of Hinrunde. He became the youngest player to score in three consecutive Champions League games. Karl has scored six goals in the first half of the season.
Even though fans are upset with his comments, Karl can quickly win them over by delivering consistent performances during the second half of the season.
On the other hand, Bayern fans should also ensure that they forgive the youngster soon and don’t hold a grudge against them. A talent like him needs constant support every weekend to make sure he shows his quality on the pitch. It was a minor mistake from the youngster. Considering how hard he works on the pitch, there should be no questions about his commitment to Bayern.