Lennart Karl, under contract with Bayern Munich until 2028, caused a stir this Sunday after openly admitting his dream of playing for Real Madrid during a visit to a Bayern fan club in Burgsinn, a small
town near Frammersbach, his hometown. What was meant to be a relaxed, intimate moment with supporters quickly became national news in Germany.
Surrounded by Bayern fans and speaking casually with a microphone in hand, Karl was asked whether he dreamed of playing for any club other than Bayern Munich. His response was striking in its honesty — and perhaps in its naivety.
“I hope this stays between us,” Karl said. “Bayern is a very big club. It’s a dream to play there, but one day I want to go to Real Madrid. That’s my dream club — but this stays between us.”
It didn’t.
What makes the story more compelling is that Karl’s fascination with Real Madrid is not new — nor theoretical.
According to journalist Sebastian Leisgang, a close friend of Karl’s family, the connection dates back to June 2018, when Lennart was just 10 years old. Speaking recently on the And Now Sports podcast, Leisgang revealed that Karl had actually been part of Real Madrid’s youth recruitment process.
“He had a trial with Real Madrid when he was 10 years old,” Leisgang explained. “There were regional training camps, one of them in the Aschaffenburg region. From there he advanced to the next round, which was held in Memmingen. There he triumphed again and was invited to travel to Madrid to go to the Bernabéu — but, as you know, the agreement with Real Madrid didn’t work out.”
That early brush with Valdebebas clearly left an impression.
For now, however, Karl remains a Bayern player — and an important one. His contract runs until 2028, and there is no indication that Bayern have any intention of entertaining a move. Nor is there any evidence that Real Madrid are actively pursuing him at this stage.
Still, Real Madrid’s long-standing pull on elite talent — particularly young players who grow up watching Champions League nights at the Bernabéu — once again made itself felt. Karl’s comments fit a familiar pattern: admiration first, ambition later, speculation always lurking in the background.
