Subway Socceroos head coach Graham Arnold said Nestory Irankunda will only “get better” at Bayern Munich having made an early impression at the Bundesliga juggernaut.
Irankunda has hit the ground running since joining Bayern from Isuzu UTE A-League side Adelaide United and the Australian teen sensation is in contention to make his competitive debut when the German giants kick off their Bundesliga season away to Wolfsburg on Sunday.
The 18-year-old, who has been involved with Vincent Kompany’s senior team throughout pre-season – has five goal involvements in five matches for Bayern – two goals and three assists, while he has also scored for the club’s youth side.
UNITE ROUND IS BACK! EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Asked about Irankunda’s start to life in Munich, Arnold told reporters: “It’s been a great start for the kid.
“(Assistant) Rene (Meulensteen) went to Bayern Munich to visit him and see how he was. He’s in great spirits. He is so happy.
“The move so far has been excellent for him. I’ve been watching his games when he does come on.
“I’ve spoken to him and he says he still pinches himself that he is training with this calibre of players.
“The kid is only going to learn and get better from that. It’s great that he’s fitted him very well and very quickly.”
WONDERKID WATCH: 55-goal teen sensation wins Golden Boot as another A-Leagues academy claims title
OFFICIAL: A-Leagues icon completes Scotland transfer after ‘a lot of interest from all over the world’
Irankunda already has two international caps and a goal to his name, having made his Subway Socceroos debut in June.
Arnold’s Australia are gearing up for 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup qualifiers against Bahrain (September 5) and Indonesia (September 10).
“For me, the most important thing is we get our strongest squad here,” Arnold said. “It’s a FIFA window and clubs have to release — that’s the power of these FIFA windows. So it is what it is. And the boys, we need everyone here, and the best players that are fit and available and ready to go.
“I’ll be interested to see the difference in him in just three months since the Bangladesh and Palestine games where he was very impressive. I think there will have been a lot of work on his fitness levels. I think there’ll be quite a lot of work in the gym for him.
“Over there in Germany, they’re playing two or three games a week, and he’s got to get used to that, where, obviously, back here, it’s one game a week, and those types of changes are significant, but his body will change for sure.”
