A new diet for Harry Kane? Bayern Munich snap up revered nutritionist from Borussia Dortmund to join Vincent Kompany’s backroom staff ahead of Club World Cup

Bavaria-based outlet the tz reported on Wednesday that Bayern have snapped up a new nutritionist named Melf Carstensen, who was working for Borussia Dortmund. The report stated that Cartsensen boarded the plane with the Bayern squad from Munich on Tuesday, as the Bundesliga champions departed for Orlando ahead of the Club World Cup.

Carstensen was under contract with Dortmund, who will also be participating in the Club World Cup, until June 30, 2025. However, sporting director Max Eberl acquired his services just in time for the Club World Cup. Eberl knows the nutritionist from their time together at Borussia Monchengladbach.

At Gladbach, he earned the nickname 'Miraculix' — a nod to the wise druid from the Asterix & Obelix comics who concocts the magical potion that gives the Gauls their superhuman strength. Much like his cartoon counterpart, Carstensen believes in the power of the right formula. After training sessions, he turns to specially prepared recovery shakes, rich in carbohydrates and protein, to quickly replenish energy and support muscle repair.

Carstensen is a big believer in evidence-based solutions, placing emphasis on unprocessed foods to conjure maximum recovery. His arrival at Bayern is certainly set to improve the physical endurance of the players, with dietary changes set to follow.

"The goal is to delay fatigue as much as possible. Ideally, farther than the opponent. 20 percent more mileage is possible with the right nutrition – that's exactly what we need and want," Carstensen said in an interview in 2022. "You can't do without it. If the rice pudding is crap, you lose. Food is a pleasure. It should taste good. Especially for the players, who also know good food, it's not like they only get rice with tomato sauce. We try to make it as interesting, tasty, and varied as possible."

Die Roten will play their first game of the Club World Cup on Sunday, June 15, when they take on Auckland City.