Kompany defends Bayern youngster Karl after Real Madrid comments

Vincent Kompany has come to the defence of Bayern Munich youngster Lennart Karl after he was criticised for comments regarding a potential future move to Real Madrid.

During a Bayern supporters group event, Karl called Los Blancos his “dream club” and expressed a desire to one day join the LaLiga giants.

Karl has broken plenty of records this season. With three goals and two assists to his name in the Bundesliga, he became the first Bayern player to record five direct goal involvements in the league before turning 18.

He also became the youngest player in the history of the Champions League to score on three consecutive appearances (17 years and 290 days), while also being the youngest player to score in the competition for the Bavarian club.

Ahead of Sunday's Bundesliga fixture against Wolfsburg, Kompany defended the actions of Karl, who is also the youngest Bayern player to score and assist in a single league game.

“I try to view it from a bit of a distance. Everyone has to go through a storm sometimes. Then it's important to see the big picture,” said Kompany.

“Lennart trains very hard every day. He works hard for the team, defensively as well. He delivers every day, in meetings too.

“He maybe made a slight communicative error, but he's concentrating on the important things, he's had a good week of training. He's done so much to earn his minutes in games. His quality is clear, he's doing a lot right.

“He spoke with Christoph [Freund] and Max [Eberl] and apologised, which I also like. I've tried to be the only one who doesn't speak to him about it.

“If ever he doesn't give 100 percent, then he has a problem with me, but he's trained and played very well.”

Wolfsburg are currently 14th in the Bundesliga, just three points above St. Pauli in 16th.

However, they have picked up seven points from their last five matches, with only five teams winning more points in that time.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bayern Munich – Harry Kane

Kane reached 100 goal involvements (81 goals, 19 assists) in his 78th Bundesliga game, quicker than any player before him.

He has scored 19 goals after 15 league matchdays in 2025-26, and only Kane himself (2023-24), Robert Lewandowski (2020-21) and Gerd Muller (1968-69, all 20) had more after 15 matchdays.

Wolfsburg – Dzenan Pejcinovic

At 20 years and 308 days old, Pejcinovic became the youngest Wolfsburg player to score a hat-trick in the Bundesliga, against Freiburg last month.

He is also the youngest German player to net a hat-trick in the competition since Thomas Muller (for Bayern) against Bochum in 2010 (20y 230d).

It was Pejcinovic's second hat-trick in all competitions this season and among all Bundesliga players, only Harry Kane has more (three).