'Magic' Tillman, the Bayern reject who is making waves at PSV: “They didn't want me”

Malik Leon Tillman (Nuremberg, 2002) is one of the big names in the 2024-25 Champions League. And rightly so.

The PSV playmaker once again made his mark, with two goals, each better than the last in the epic victory over Shakhtar (3-2). He made it 1-2 in the 87th minute with a cheeky goal, from a free kick, without too much angle, which caught Riznyk by surprise and scored the 2-2 with a right-footed shot from more than 30 meters. Another American, Ricardo Pepi, completed the American-style comeback for the Eindhoven side in the 95th minute.

Tillman’s great performance, who also scored in the 4-0 win over Girona, was doubly rewarded: ‘MVP’ – for the second matchday in a row – and ‘Goal of the Matchday’, the 2-2, by UEFA. Not only that. According to ‘Sofascore’, he is the player who creates the most goalscoring opportunities in the Champions League (18), the one who wins the most duels (42) and the one who has scored the most goals from outside the area (2).

More of the same, this time according to ‘DataMB’ parameters, in the Eredivisie: he is the leader in chances created, dribbles, duels won in attack… He has already scored 12 goals in 19 games, scoring eight and assisting four.

Barcelona and Madrid wanted… his brother

In Munich, more than one person may be tearing their hair out. Tillman was a Bayern youth player. He arrived from Greuther Furth, along with his brother Timothy, in 2015. At the time, curiously, Timothy, now with Los Angeles FC and with whom he shares the US national team, was the good one, the one who was being fought over by Barcelona and Real Madrid.

“Timothy was our greatest talent in 30 years. His departure was a disaster for the club,” said Helmut Hack in ‘Sport Bild’. “Timothy had a concrete offer from Barcelona, they had been following him for months,” said his agent, Christian Rossner.

“I like Pogba, his style is similar to mine”

However, little by little, Malik progressed through the ranks. Versatile as they come – he can play as a pivot, inside, playmaker or winger – he even played as a ‘9’ thanks to his body (he is 1.87 metres tall) in Bayern’s youth team.However, his role model was another. “I prefer to play as an ‘8’ or a ’10’ than as a striker. I can also score goals that way and I have the football in front of me and I can use my creativity.I like Pogba, his style of play is similar to mine. He is a role model for me,” he told Bild.

He made his Bayern debut under Nagelsmann

Finally, shortly after recovering from a cruciate ligament rupture, he made his debut for Bayern’s first team. It was in the DFB-Pokal, on August 25, 2021 against Bremer SV (0-12). He was 19 years, two months and 28 days old and scored on his debut.

He renewed with the aim of “establishing himself at Bayern”, but the opportunities, little by little, disappeared. In 2022-23 he went on loan to Rangers with an option to buy. He scored 12 goals in 43 games, provided five assists and was named ‘Young Player of the Year’… but, paradoxically, ended up returning to Munich.

Explosion at PSV

Last season, however, he was loaned to PSV, who did not waste the purchase option, set at 12 million euros. The American – who had been an international with Germany up to U21 level – contributed nine goals and 15 assists in 39 games to Eindhoven’s first league title since 2018.

Bayern could buy him back, but they did not. “It was all up to Bayern and basically they didn’t want me anymore,” he said. “PSV had the right to sign me, it was the first option, and I’m happy here,” he said.

Bayern did, however, include a buy-back clause worth 35 million for the summer of 2026. By then, if he continues at this rate, he will have already left the Eredivisie, but he has not lost sight of the Allianz Arena. “It’s no secret. Returning to Bayern is still a dream and a big goal for me,” he said.