Wunderbar: Singh completes
Sarpreet Singh has completed a potentially life-changing move to Bayern Munich, signing a three-year deal with the club’s reserve team.
Although the young Wellington Phoenix star will start out playing for Bayern Munich II in Germany’s thirdtier 3.Liga competition, the rewards are massive should Singh impress over the next three seasons.
The talented 20-year-old is now just one call-up away from the first team, where he could line up alongside global superstars such as Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer and become just the second New Zealander behind former Werder Bremen star Wynton Rufer to play in the Bundesliga.
‘‘I was in Australia when my agent phoned me and I was extremely happy when I heard the news that Bayern were interested in me. It showed me that my development has gone beyond the A-League and it gives me the strength and motivation to go further,’’ said Singh, who despite being photographed holding a No 10 shirt last week will wear No 31 for his new team.
‘‘In my mind I had an idea and I let the club know that I wanted to explore Europe because I think it’s time for me to take the next step, so that’s what I’ve done now and I couldn’t be happier with the decision that I’ve made and where I am now.
‘‘They see me as a potential for the first team and they basically want me to develop for the next season, then who knows what will happen from there. Depending on how well you do anything is possible.
‘‘My second team, we train right next to the first team at the same time and if there’s injuries or things like that you can get called in quite easy. Now it’s down to me to prove myself.’’
The fact Singh has been offered a three-year contract shows how highly rated the Phoenix academy product is by the five-time European champions, the length of the deal giving him plenty of time to adapt to his new surroundings before having a real crack at pushing for first team action.
Although Singh is one of the most