From refugee camp to Bayern Munich – the remarkable Alphonso Davies

Last season, aged 17, “Phonzy” scored eight goals with ten assists in 31 MSL games for Vancouver, earning the respect of the league’s superstar.

“I see a bright future for him,” said Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who plays for LA Galaxy.

– Mbappe or Messi? –

Craig Dalrymple, his former coach in Vancouver, compares Davies to France’s teen star Kylian Mbappe “for his power and speed”, but the youngster admits Lionel Messi is his idol.

For now, Davies, who can play as a striker or winger, is adjusting to the pace of life at Bayern.

He could make his Bundesliga debut when the defending champions resume action at Hoffenheim on January 18, with Bayern second in the table and trailing leaders Dortmund by six points.

“The biggest adjustment has been the speed of play — the ball moves quicker than a player ever could,” said Davies.

“I want to keep progressing and getting more comfortable on the ball.”

Davies explained why he opted for the Number 19 shirt at Bayern.

“I had a couple of options to pick from, but I chose the 19 shirt as 2019 is the year that I am eligible to play for this amazing club,” he added.

His skills are undeniable, but admits his German is a work in progress.

“Wie geht’s? (How are you?)… Servus (‘Hi’ in the Bavarian dialect)… that’s it,” he mustered in his first press conference.