Bayern Munich s new signing Sandro Wagner has been compared to Mario Mandzukic by his new team-mate Javi Martinez.
Mandzukic played for Bayern between 2012 and 2014 before moving to Juventus, for whom he scored a stunning goal in their 2017 Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid.
Wagner signed a two-and-a-half-year deal at the Bundesliga champions after a reported fee of €12million was paid to Hoffenheim to sign the 30-year-old.
And Martinez believes Wagner, like Mandzukic, can add a fresh dimension to Bayern s attacking play, although he is likely to play a back-up role to Robert Lewandowski.
He reminds me of Mario Mandzukic, Martinez told Bild.
Whenever I had to play against Sandro, I knew: Man, today it will be uncomfortable!
He is one of the players you do not want to be an opponent, but rather have in your own team.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
— Javi Martínez (@Javi8martinez)
Martinez also expressed surprise at the return to Bayern of veteran coach Jupp Heynckes, who has steered the club to an 11-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga.
I could not believe it at first, I thought the coach was retired, Martinez said of Carlo Ancelotti s successor.
He knows exactly my strengths and weaknesses. In the first training after my return, he put me in the number six position.
It was clear: I ll play my position again. It makes me feel good.