Perhaps Bayern Munich should consider acquiring Pascal Groß instead of João Palinha? Over the past year, Groß has emerged as one of Germany’s most underrated players, and his talents are finally receiving recognition. He has been a consistent presence in Brighton’s squad under coach Roberto De Zerbi, featuring in 37 out of 38 Premier League matches last season, as per FBref. The 32-year-old has showcased both reliability and versatility, capable of filling roles in defensive midfield, attacking midfield, and right-back – a valuable skill set for the German national team.
It appears that Groß has not only captured the attention of De Zerbi but also that of Julian Nagelsmann, the newly appointed national team manager and former Bayern Munich coach. Nagelsmann praised Groß for his performance in Germany’s 3-1 victory over the United States on Saturday evening.
Julian Nagelsmann on Pascal Groß: "Pascal has done very well, he has a very good coach in Brighton who gives him a lot. Pascal is very clever in space, is brave and has good counter-pressing, he can play many positions. He's been a bit under the radar in Germany for years, but… pic.twitter.com/qRsgBZJMoR
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) October 15, 2023
While Groß was merely a substitute for Joshua Kimmich, who was sidelined with a cold, he proved to be a dependable replacement against the USMNT. According to Sofascore, he completed 54 out of 58 passes (93% pass accuracy) and won 100% of his duels (three on the ground and one aerial). This strong debut for Die Mannschaft undoubtedly left Nagelsmann impressed.