Munich and Khobar are a long way apart, but Luis Díaz has offered a warm assessment of a former Colombia youth-team colleague now making his way with Al-Qadisah. The Bayern Munich forward believes Julián Quiñones has the qualities required not only for the Bundesliga, but for any leading European competition.
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Díaz and Quiñones first shared an international setting at the 2017 South American Under-20 Championship, when both were part of Colombia’s youth ranks. Their senior international paths later diverged: Quiñones, after appearing for Colombia at Under-20 and Under-21 level, was cleared in 2023 to represent Mexico.
That decision meant the pair did not go on to become Colombia senior-team teammates. Their club journeys have also taken different routes, with Díaz establishing himself in Europe and Quiñones moving from Liga MX to Saudi Arabia.
Speaking about the Al-Qadisah attacker, Díaz recalled a player and person he came to know in the Colombia dressing room. “I shared a dressing room with him in Colombia’s Under-20s and got to know him well there,” he said. “He is an excellent person, a good lad and a hard worker.”
Asked whether Quiñones could cope with the Bundesliga, Díaz gave an unequivocal answer. “Of course he could,” he said, adding that his former youth international colleague possesses “great potential”, extending beyond Germany’s top division.
“He has the ability for this league and for any elite league,” Díaz said. “He is agile, scores goals and creates assists. He has everything needed to play for a top club.”
Díaz is well placed to make that judgement after his own route through the European game. Porto gave him his first opportunity on the continent, where he spent almost three years before Liverpool signed him in January 2022. Following a successful spell on Merseyside, he joined Bayern in July 2025.
The Colombian has scored once in five appearances across the Bundesliga, Champions League and German Cup so far this season.
A brief shared spell in Colombia colours
The 2017 South American Under-20 Championship produced four Colombia matches in which both Díaz and Quiñones featured during the tournament. Yet they were never on the pitch together in any of them.
Díaz was generally selected from the start, while Quiñones was more often introduced from the bench. In the matches Quiñones began, Díaz did not play, leaving their international connection confined to the squad rather than a partnership on the field.
