Celtic midfielder Mika Baur admits he is still pinching himself after being handed a shock Germany call-up by Jurgen Klopp. The 22-year-old reckons it is proof of just how big a step he took by moving to Celtic Park.
Historic opportunity for Celtic player
Baur could become the first Hoops player to represent Germany since Andreas Hinkel 17 years ago if he features against Serbia in Munich on Wednesday. The midfielder was a surprise inclusion when new Germany boss Klopp named a bumper 44-man squad for the Nations League fixtures before trimming it to 25 for the final two games – with Baur making the cut.
Now he is desperate to get his chance and follow in the international footsteps of his dad Markus Baur, who won 228 caps for Germany and helped his country to European and World Championship glory in handball.
Baur on his surprise call-up
He said: "Until I got the phone call about a call-up, playing for Germany felt very distant and far away. I knew that Celtic was the next step in my career, but I didn't expect it to be such a big step. It was just as surprising for me, probably as it was for all of you, that I'm here!"
"I'm trying to absorb everything here. Of course, you want to make a name for yourself, leave your mark, ideally play and ultimately get some minutes. But I have to earn them. We’re a sports-mad family. My brother plays youth football in Freiburg too and he’s also very good at it."
Family influence and father's legacy
"We didn’t sit around the table and say, ‘you play handball, you play football.’ Instead, everyone did what they wanted to do. That worked out quite well. What my father did was a huge achievement. It's not like if I don't reach that level, my career is for nothing. Of course, we all want to win, to win all the titles. But he can be proud of that because not everyone achieves that."
"He won't be there for the Serbia game, but he will be coming to Greece for the second game. His advice was to have fun and smile a lot. Don't get too excited and take it easy. In the end, it's football and it's about having fun. But of course I want to show what I stand for and who I am - far more than just the son of a World and European Champion."
