By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Alphonso Davies, the 19-year-old Canadian new face for the ruling German Champion Bayern Munich as the gifted winger, has made his way to the Bavarians first 11 quickly, and former Bayern president Uli Hoeness called him the discovery of the season "on his way to world-class."
"He is the future," Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said after Davies joined the side from the Vancouver Whitecaps in January 2019 on a contract until 2023 for a then Major League Soccer record transfer fee of around 10 million euros.
The future came faster than expected. A few months ago, Davies played for Bayern's amateur team in the third division, and now he is widening his coach's options in the first team.
Davies might have benefited from the injuries of the established forces such as Niklas Suele and Lucas Hernandez, but he has proved his quality on the highest level. Fullback David Alaba has to help out as a center-back due to the injury losses while rookie Davies fills the gap on the left side.
Dominating stars like Dortmund's Jadon Sancho and Tottenham's Son Heung-min, Davies addressed Flick's demand to set more impulses in the forwarding game next to his convincing performance in the back.
In advance of Bayern's Bundesliga duel against Werder Bremen this Saturday, midfielder Leon Goretzka called him "a machine."
Joshua Kimmich is praising his speed and athletic. "He is on a top-level already," the German international commented, referring to Davies statistics that point him out as one of the team's best regarding passing and tackle figures of over 90 percent.
Teammates said they would call him "Usain" as his speed reminds them of former sprint star Usain Bolt.
Since his coach Hansi Flick took over as head coach and successor of Niko Kovac beginning of November, the youngster seems irreplaceable having played every minute.
"He is of great value for us as we can count on his extraordinary speed," Flick commented.
As remarkable as his current upswing, so is the story behind the Canadian with Liberian roots born in the refugee camp of Buduburam in Liberia. Until today his mother calls him her "refugee baby."
Davies' tough childhood was a distant memory. "I am thankful to my parents as they had no easy life. If they hadn't dared to leave Africa, I wouldn't have made my way in professional football," Davies said.
He started to play on dusty pitches without proper shoes at the age of five, living in a small wooden hut among 250, 000 refugees that escaped from Liberia's civil war.
In Canada, he had to care for his younger sister and brother, which "made him grow up fast as there was no choice." Football, he said, helped him as a shy boy to get along in his new homeland.
Coaches quickly discovered his unique skills. He was 15 years and three months old as he became the second-youngest debutant in American professional football.
Fans were amazed when he caught up on Tottenham's striker Son, who is one of the fastest forwards, after a long run back from midfield. German media called him "Bayern's fastest weapon" when Bayern beat the Premier League side by 3-1.
When his father called from Canada, the winger told him how happy he is with his new position and his progress. "What happens to me right now is like a dream," he said.
