"He's a wonderful footballer" - Klopp likens Celtic's Baur to Champions League winner after Germany debut

Jürgen Klopp was full of praise for Mika Baur after the Celtic midfielder made his Germany debut against Serbia on Thursday, even likening him to a player at a "multiple-time Champions League winner" whose identity he did not reveal. Liga to becoming a Germany international.

A breakthrough season with SC Paderborn in the 2. Bundesliga was followed by a €6 million move to Celtic, his first Germany call-up and, on Thursday, his international debut as the 1,000th player to represent Die Nationalmannschaft in their 2-0 win over Serbia.

Speaking after the match, Germany coach Jürgen Klopp praised Baur for imposing himself in the Scottish Premiership, which he has described as the "nastiest league in the world." "To establish yourself there with those physical attributes and put yourself through all of that, that's something really special," Klopp said. The 59-year-old made it clear that he is a huge admirer of the midfielder's qualities.

"We've really seen now that he's a wonderful footballer," Klopp said before making a remarkable comparison. "There is a player at a multiple-time Champions League winner who constantly reminds me of him." While Klopp did not name the player, his description could point to Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha.

The two dark-haired, curly-haired midfielders are similarly short in stature, but both know how to hold their own physically and are extremely comfortable in possession. Baur could make his second appearance for Germany when they travel to Thessaloniki to face Greece on Sunday.