"I remember applauding it when it was presented in 2021. The knockout rounds were always great, but the group stage had become heavy. Now it's very entertaining. UEFA deserves credit."
We see him every day, playing at the highest level in the Champions League. He will certainly be one of the best in the world one day; he's on the right track. Everything he does is right. His level is already on par with the best players in Europe.
Said El Mala has burst onto the scene at FC Köln and he's quickly become a transfer target for several top clubs across Europe including Bayern Munich. His profile has been compared to that of Lennart Karl and Jamal Musiala with his pace, dribbling abilities, and finishing, but he's his own player and, by the looks of things, has quite a high ceiling ahead of him.
Bayern Munich's frugal nature may oft get under the skin of fans. But one advantage to their budget-conscious approach means that the German record champions have not reported a financial loss for 30 consecutive years and even crossed the one billion Euro revenue threshold in the 2023/24 season - a first in the club's, then, 124 year history.
