Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery has admitted that compatriot Kingsley Coman could develop into a better player than him, while also discussing his role in helping the younger players at the Allianz Arena.
The 19-year-old attacker is enjoying a superb loan spell with Pep Guardiola’s team after joining the club on loan from Juventus in the summer of 2015. The teenager has also forced his way into the French national squad, and scored his first international goal in a recent friendly against Russia on Tuesday. The 32-year-old Ribery has publicly spoken of his young teammate’s desire to be “the next Ribery.”
The recently capped french international has had a fine debut season on loan from the Italian champions, scoring 4 goals in the league, 2 in the Champions league and registering 10 assists in both competitions combined. Chances came few and far between at Juventus and PSG for the Parisian born Coman, but his patience seems to have paid off, and he’s made good use of his chances with the Bavarian giants when he’s been called upon.
On this Ribery had to say “I hope he could be. I speak French with him a lot,” he told Goal, “Kingsley has not had an easy time until now. He didn’t play much in Paris or at Juventus.
“When he came to Munich, he put a lot of effort in. He is free in his head and just plays football. He is doing a good job.
“Nevertheless, he can become even better. At the age of 19 he needs time for his development and has to learn from the older ones in the squad.”
On efforts to help the youth
The legendary winger has also spoken on his efforts to help the likes of Coman and the other young players in the Bayern team, and maintains that they are at the right club for career development.
He said “I want to help the talents, I want to help them improve and I’m working hard at it. Life is hard as well. I played at 17, 18 years old in the third division – that’s a completely different world.
“Bayern offers the young guys a huge opportunity. I’m not a person who expects more respect from them. I hate that. In my long career I have experienced a lot, but never changed.
“I appreciate every guy, whether he is a footballer or a cook. If one talent manages to get to the first team, I am his first friend. It was the same with Alaba and others, as it is now with Kingsley.”
It may be this very friendship and opportunity that Bayern offer their youngsters that has led the 19-year-old Coman to say that he would not mind spending the entirety of his career with the Bavarian giants. As his performances show, his time spent under the tutelage of Guardiola has seen him grow as a player. Bayern have until the end of April 2017 to make his deal permanent according to Goal. One suspects however, after such a fine season with Bayern and his recent exploits for the French national team, that his parent club Juventus might reconsider bringing the Frenchman back to Turin sooner rather than later.
