by Oliver Trust

BERLIN, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Aleksandar Pavlovic might feel like being in the middle of a dream.

Only six years ago, he was a Bayern Munich ball boy, but now the 19-year-old Munich native has developed into the 2020 treble winners' rising star and gained a spot in the team's midfield ahead of experienced players such as Joshua Kimmich.

Moreover, doors to an international career seem wide open after national associations of both Germany and Serbia find themselves in a competition to convince him to don their colors.

On Tuesday, media reports spoke of Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann calling the youngster up for upcoming matches against France and the Netherlands to secure the midfielder's future in the Germany shirt.

Pavlovic's parents moved to Germany while their son joined Bayern's youth team at age seven.

Recently, a delegation from the Serbian association traveled to Munich to attempt to persuade the midfielder join the national team of his father's home country, after the youngster had played for Germany's under-20 national team.

While Nagelsmann will officially announce his squad on Thursday, intense activity is going on behind the scenes.

As he looks to end Germany's run of early exits in major tournaments in recent years, the former Bayern coach is pushing his efforts to create a generation change.

Pavlovic will be the latest Bayern youth team product to make his way into the national team, following the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm and Thomas Muller.

"I was one of the ball boys for several years. To score a goal in the Bayern shirt feels like a dream," Pavlovic said, adding that "Bayern means everything to me."

Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel has praised Pavlovic's development, saying, "I admire his ability to transfer his training performance into competitive games."

Germany's record international Lothar Matthaus praised the rookie's potential, saying that he has a brilliant career ahead of him after Pavlovic began training with the Bayern first team at age 18.

Making his debut for Germany would seem to ensure the youngster's place in the team's Euro 2024 squad on home soil this summer.

After Jamal Musiala elected to play for Germany over England in 2021, Pavlovic is the second youngster in recent past years to declare for Die Mannschaft. Enditem

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