'He reminds me of a young Xabi Alonso' - Bayern Munich president full of praise for promising youngster

Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer made some pretty big claims while speaking about promising midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic, stating that the young German reminded him of a young Xabi Alonso. Hainer’s comments have certainly raised expectations for Pavlovic, signalling that the club sees him as a future star with the potential to make a lasting impact.

A product of the Bayern Munich youth academy, Pavlovic made his first-team debut in October 2023 at the age of 19. Since then, his trajectory has been upwards and he finds himself among the world's best young midfielders. Pavlovic also made his debut for the German national team in 2024, and has been a regular under Vincent Kompany this season.

A defensive midfielder by trade, Pavlovic drew comparisons with the iconic Xabi Alonso, who spent two seasons at the Allianz Arena after having incredible spells at Real Sociedad, Liverpool, and Real Madrid.

"With Jamal Musiala and Aleksandar Pavlovic, we already have the future of the club," Hainer said in excitement (h/t BILD). "Musiala has exceptional technical skills, he is an absolute fan favorite worlwide.

"Pavlovic, with his calmness and passing accuracy, is sometimes reminiscent of the young Xabi Alonso. Both have everything it takes to become legends of FC Bayern."

Pavlovic will next be seen in action on Sunday, February 23, when Bayern Munich host Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. The Bavarian giants have a healthy eight-point lead over Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the table.