Wirtz-Musiala duo on Schweinsteiger’s Bayern wishlist

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World Cup winner and German legend Bastian Schweinsteiger believes young stars should stay in the Bundesliga, and is dreaming of a Florian Wirtz-Jamal Musiala partnership at Bayern Munich.

Speaking at a UEFA event in Cape Town on Heineken’s SA Trophy Tour, Schweinsteiger voiced concern over top German talents leaving the Bundesliga.

With Wirtz linked to Real Madrid and Manchester City, Schweinsteiger expressed his preference for top talents like Wirtz and Musiala to stay in Germany—and ideally play together at club level.

“I want the best players to stay in the Bundesliga,” Schweinsteiger said. “To see Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala playing together not only for the national team would be fantastic.”

However, Schweinsteiger also admitted understanding the appeal of moving abroad. “I understand if players want to play abroad, I did the same. It was great to experience different cultures and leagues, but I left Bayern when I was 31 and after winning many trophies.”

It was a long road to the top for Schweinsteiger. He joined Bayern’s youth setup as a teenager, competing against many players who at the time seemed more naturally talented.

“I joined Bayern when I was 13-years-old,” he recalled. “There were many players that were better and more talented than myself. At 16, I had a youth final against Stuttgart. I got four assists, and manager Ottmar Hitzfeld told me to train with the first team the next day.

“It was a surreal moment—I thought, wow. That was one of the moments when I realised I could make it as a pro.”

Schweinsteiger went on to become a key figure in Bayern’s most successful era, highlighted by the 2013 treble — claiming the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and coveted UEFA Champions League trophy.

The European crown came after a dramatic final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, a night Schweinsteiger still remembers vividly. Reflecting on that historic season, he highlighted Bayern’s goalkeeper as the team’s most vital player.

“The one player that was irreplaceable in our treble-winning season was Manuel Neuer,” Schweinsteiger said. “It was such a strong team with legends like Philipp Lahm, Franck Ribéry, and Arjen Robben. Neuer saved us in the Champions League final. We could have lost that match if he hadn’t stepped up early on.”

While many of Bayern’s stars from that season remain iconic, Schweinsteiger took a moment to highlight an underrated hero.

“A player who was underrated in that team was Mario Mandzukic. After losing the Champions League final to Chelsea, players like Mandzukic, Dante, and Javi Martinez arrived and helped us get better.”

After lifting every major trophy with Bayern, Schweinsteiger sought a new challenge. In 2015, he moved to Manchester United, reuniting with former Bayern manager Louis van Gaal. His time in England presented a new set of experiences, both on and off the field.

“The surroundings in England were very different,” he recalled. “The away dressing rooms were tiny. There wasn’t even space to be treated by a physio. On the field, there was less control in matches compared to the Bundesliga. Louis van Gaal was very keen on implementing that style.”

Despite the adjustments, Schweinsteiger believed Manchester United was capable of challenging for major honours.

“I had the belief that we could win the Premier League. We had a great team, and the rest of the league wasn’t as strong. It was around the time Leicester City won the league, before Klopp and Guardiola arrived. After Pep came, I knew it would be tougher.”

Following his stint at Old Trafford, Schweinsteiger’s journey took him to Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer. It was another move that tested his adaptability.

“When I joined Chicago, they were at the bottom of MLS for two years,” he said. “I saw the opportunity to bring in my European experience. We started well, but it was tough adjusting to the American style.”

Results were hard to come by, and Schweinsteiger quickly noticed the cultural difference in how wins and losses were perceived in MLS.

“We didn’t win matches, and people would tell you it’s okay, you can still make it far. That was hard to understand. It’s in my DNA to win— even a draw felt like a defeat. There are no relegations, and the system is different, but overall, I loved being in Chicago. It was beautiful.”

Now fully retired from playing, Schweinsteiger remains close to the game through punditry, allowing him to stay connected to football’s biggest stages. Though the urge to lace up his boots occasionally resurfaces, he’s at peace with his decision to retire.

“I’m still close to the game with my punditry,” Schweinsteiger said. “Sometimes when you hear the national anthem and the Champions League song, you want to be back on the field.”

“I’ve made the right decisions. I never had a problem with retiring. I look back on my career—I won every trophy. I played for my childhood club Bayern Munich in front of millions, in full stadiums. It was everything I dreamed of as a child, so I have no regrets.”

Photo: Christof Koepsel/Getty Images

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Dylan Johnson