How COVID and Germany coach robbed England of Musiala - the teen star likened to Kaka

The Three Lions boss regularly watched the midfielder, who looked like being one of the brightest prospects in the country, until he decided to represent Germany instead.

Only back in November 2020 Musiala had represented England at Under-21 level, scoring his first Young Lions goal in a friendly as the then 17-year-old impressed - just as those at the Football Association knew he would.

Already Bayern Munich's youngest ever Bundesliga player and a regular for England's youth teams, the former Chelsea academy player seemed set to snub Germany.

His only two games for Germany came as an Under-16 in 2018 and the German FA seemed ready to concede defeat.

"He has clearly signalled to us that he currently sees his future with the English national teams," their head of academy coaching Meikel Schonweitz said shortly after that debut appearance, frustrated one of Europe's brightest talents was seemingly gone for good.

Musiala was born in Stuttgart, Germany, to a Nigerian father and a German mother, but was raised in England after his family moved at the age of seven.

He spent eight years with the Blues before finally deciding to move back to his country of birth and play for Bayern.

In February 2021, he became the youngest ever Englishman to score in the Champions League when he netted against Lazio. However, by the following morning this stat was amended to make him the youngest German to score in the Champions League.

"I have a heart for Germany and a heart for England, both hearts will continue to beat - I've thought a lot about this question," Musiala told German sports programme Sportschau.

"In the end, I listened to my feelings saying it's the right decision to play for Germany. But it wasn't an easy decision for me.

"I had a very good and honest discussion with [former Germany head coach] Joachim Low. He showed me a clear route into the national team. Mr Low had clearly worked out and analysed my strengths and weaknesses. He also sees my future in my strongest position of attacking midfield and appreciates my qualities there."

It was Low who laid on a charm offensive in late 2020 and early 2021 in order to lure Musiala away from the overtures of England, even after making his debut for the Young Lions side.

The Germany manager would make visits to the Allianz Arena and then dine with Musiala afterwards as they discussed the game and also his continued path into the national side.

This manifested itself from a simple sales pitch into reality last summer when Musiala was unleashed from the bench against Hungary having been benched for the opening two games of Euro 2020.

Such was the teenager's ability to carry the ball from wide and central areas to have a devastating effect on the game, Germany legend Lothar Matthaus pleaded with Low to start the teenager at Wembley on for their crunch last-16 clash against England.

His pleas fell on deaf ears, though, as Musiala started on the bench as the Germans were defeated 2-0 and knocked out by the eventual losing finalists.

Low's legacy with Die Mannschaft is secure thanks to the World Cup win in 2014, yet snatching Musiala from the clutches of England could well be remembered as his crowning moment before he departed and was replaced by Hansi Flick.

Leading European football journalist Raphael Honigstein believes the decision to snub England was as much based on the impact of COVID-19 as it was Low himself.

"I don't think it was a decision against England," Honigstein told BT Sport.

"I think perhaps coronavirus and not being able to travel and perhaps not having a more physical sense relationship with all his teammates, it was perhaps a little bit easier for all the Bayern players who were constantly in his ear every single day at training to influence him and change his mind."

Former Germany and Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Jens Lehmann feels there is a much simpler explanation.

The Arsenal 'Invincibles' legend once told talkSPORT how England's failures at international tournaments may have counted against them in the fight for Musiala

"It's hard for me to judge," he said. "We are happy because he is a great player and probably because he sees more potential in the German team winning something than in the English!"

Regardless of whether or not Musiala starts against England this time, the former Chelsea starlet is likely to be a prominent figure in European football and a constant thorn in the side of Gareth Southgate and the FA.

Tune into talkSPORT for LIVE commentary of Germany vs England in the UEFA Nations League - Tuesday, June 7 - Kick-off: 7:45pm BST