Bayern Munich's pre-season tour of Asia kicked off on Saturday without eight key first-team players, including World Cup semi-finalists Harry Kane, Dayot Upamecano, and Michael Olise, who are still on vacation.
The trio, along with Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala, new signing Ismael Saibari, Serge Gnabry, and Lennart Karl, remained in Munich to continue their respective recovery programmes.
Meanwhile, the available German World Cup participants, including captain Manuel Neuer and Joshua Kimmich, were part of the travelling squad. The decision to leave several high-profile players behind is not unusual, given the pre-season nature of the tour.
The travelling squad includes several highly-rated academy prospects, including 16-year-old striker Bastian Assomo, 16-year-old centre-back Filip Pavic, 19-year-old midfielder Guido Della Rovere, 17-year-old winger Maycon Cardozo, and 19-year-old midfielder Felipe Chavez.
The 17-year-old winger Tim Binder, who has caught the eye during pre-season, is arguably the biggest surprise inclusion. His impressive form in Bayern's 2-1 friendly defeat to Wehen Wiesbaden has earned him a spot in the Asia tour squad.
Bayern have now arrived in South Korea, where they will face Jeju SK in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday. The match will provide an opportunity for the travelling squad to test their skills in a competitive setting.
The absence of key players may raise concerns about the team's readiness for the upcoming season, but it is worth noting that Bayern have a deep squad with plenty of talented players who can step up to the challenge.
The Asia tour is an important part of Bayern's pre-season preparations, allowing the team to acclimatize to the heat and humidity of the region while also facing top-level opposition.
The match against Jeju SK will be closely watched, as it will provide an opportunity for the travelling squad to prove themselves in a competitive setting.
Source: Yahoo Sports
