Bayern Munich promote 16-year-old Christian Fruchtl to first-team

Posted Friday, July 22, 2016 by squawka.com

Bayern Munich have confirmed a first-team promotion for teenager Christian Fruchtl.

The goalkeeper joined Bayern from Deggendorf in 2014, and has since played for the Bavarian giants' youth sides.

After training with the senior squad occasionally under the stewardship of Pep Guardiola, he has now received a permanent call-up.

As reported by the club's official website, new boss Carlo Ancelotti has elected to reward Fruchtl with this opportunity, and he will join the squad's pre-season tour of the United States.

The impressive 16-year-old featured once in the UEFA Youth League last term, keeping a clean sheet against Dinamo Zagreb.

His opportunities in Ancelotti's side are set to be limited, but he will surely relish the chance to work alongside the world's top goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, in training each day.

In addition to his exceptional shot-stopping ability, Neuer contributes to Bayern's possession-based philosophy, having posted a Bundesliga-high 83% distribution accuracy in 2015/16.

Bayern have thus far beaten Lippstadt and Manchester City in Fruchtl's debut pre-season with the first-team.

The reigning German champions will face Landshut next, before fixtures against fellow European superclubs AC Milan, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

Ancelotti will be seeking to win the Champions League in 2016/17, with Guardiola having made the semi-finals in three successive campaigns.