The first few days of the China tour are now done for the FC Bayern World Squad. We met two players from the Class of ‘25, Yue Bowen and Giovanni De Abreu, to talk about their impressions so far. What drives them on? What challenges have they faced so far? And what does FC Bayern mean to them?
Yue Bowen and Giovanni De Abreu interviewed
Yue and Giovanni, please introduce yourselves quickly.
“My name’s Yue Bowen, I’m 17 years old and live in Shanghai. Since I was a child, the love of football has been my motivation.”
“Hi! My name is Giovanni De Abreu, known as Gio. I’m 18 years old, of Portuguese descent, born in South Africa and live in Perth, Australia.”
Why did you apply for the FC Bayern World Squad and what does it mean to you to be part of this international project?
Yue Bowen: “FC Bayern is my dream club. The ‘Mia san mia’ vibe and the football philosophy inspire me. I want to learn from the coaches and players, improve myself and experience youth football at a high level. Being part of the project also offers me the chance to step out of my comfort zone. It’s about coming together with young players from all around the world and growing together.”
Giovanni De Abreu: “I’ve supported FC Bayern since I was very young. My mum follows the club on all the social media platforms, saw a post one morning about the World Squad and applied for me straight away. She only told me a few weeks later and I thought she was a bit mad. My first thought was: why would a club like FC Bayern choose a boy like me from the other side of the world? But if you don’t try, you’ll never know!”
Yue, how significant is it for you that this year’s journey goes to China and how was it for you to welcome the other players to your homeland?
“It’s a dream! I was very proud to welcome the team to China and I enjoyed sharing our hospitality. It’s a chance to break down stereotypes and form friendships. I’d also like to show them the Great Wall of China and Mid-Autumn Festival traditions, which bring them closer to China’s warmth and history.”
Giovanni, how was the trip to China and what are your first impressions of the team?
Giovanni De Abreu: “I’ve had a lot of fun so far, the sightseeing and the events in Shanghai as well as the city itself were really to my liking. I like the people in China too, they’re very polite and friendly. My impression of the team is that we have good players who are fast and play with high intensity, and I’m enjoying the training.”
How were the first few training sessions and how do they differ from what you’ve been used to up to now?
Yue Bowen: “Tiring! The coaches pay a lot of attention to details, like pass accuracy or tactical movements. I’ve also seen how individual attributes are combined with the team strategy. The tactical positioning training is particularly fascinating, understanding how spaces can be created and team-mates supported. It’s a challenge to adjust to the fast tempo. Whereas my training in China is more focused on physical fitness, I concentrate here on tidy and technical football.”
Giovanni De Abreu: “My first training sessions here have been tiring in the sense that I’ve been trying to adapt to the conditions and find a rhythm. The level is high and the team have a great deal of quality. The drills in training and similar to what I’m used to, but there’s a big difference in the quality and intensity.”
What do you make of the atmosphere in the team and how do you communicate in spite of the language and cultural differences?
Yue Bowen: “Very inclusive – everyone respects everyone else’s style. Even though there is a language barrier, football is our shared language: smiles, high-fives and teamwork on the pitch are stronger than words. Football gives us the possibility to come together beyond country borders.”
Giovanni De Abreu: “The atmosphere in the team is very positive and supportive, and we get on really well. I mostly use short words or gestures to communicate. I’m enjoying getting to know the Chinese culture as it’s very different to what I know.”
Are there any stories or moments you’d particularly like to share?
Yue Bowen: “The players from other countries ask us how you say ‘Thank you’, ‘I love you’ or ‘Hello’ in Chinese.”
Giovanni De Abreu: “The biggest highlight for me – and there have already been lots of great moments – was our first match together and being captain for some of it. The view of the city from North Bund was also special. It was breathtaking and definitely a once-in-a-lifetime moment.”
What does FC Bayern mean to you and do you have role models at the club?
Yue Bowen: “For me, FC Bayern shows that defensive excellence is appreciated and how defenders combine strength with technical ability – Minjae Kim is a perfect example of that. When I watch how he organises the defence, communicates clearly with his team-mates and never ducks away from challenges, I hope I can also show that in my own game.”
Giovanni De Abreu: “Even though it’s difficult, I’d like to sign a contract at FC Bayern. My current favourite players at the club are Joshua Kimmich and João Palhinha.”
Follow the entire journey of the World Squad in our live blog:
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