There is big-brother vibes about Morrison, who has made life easier for Hepburn since his move to Bavaria. The pair were in and around the same youth teams for six years at Celtic before Morrison’s departure to Munich in 2019.
For a year, the 18-year-old was on his own when it came to settling in and meeting new people – something he struggled to deal with initially.
“On my first week I went on a pre-season tour with the older age group,” he says. “I didn’t know anyone. I was thinking to myself, ‘what have I done here?’. You start to miss your family and your friends, but after a couple months it was normal.”
While the move has presented its challenges, the lure or playing at a super-club like Bayern was always going to be too great to give up on.
A “proper intense” training schedule is demanded, along with strict off-field education that has resulted in Morrison passing a diploma in business.
But the determining factor boils down to the fact a doorway is open for you at one of the biggest clubs in the world – “the best” of the lot, according to Hepburn.
“If I was to play for the best team in the world at any level, under-19s, under-17s, amateur, whatever, it’s a big achievement,” he says. “You’re at the top level now, whether it goes wrong or great, it’s not a bad thing.”
“As a young kid, I always wanted to be at one of the top clubs in Europe,” Morrison adds. “When Bayern come in for you, it’s hard to look away from that. It’s a great opportunity and a great learning curve. If you make it all the way, it’s a bonus.”
