Manuel Neuer is likely to miss the start of Bayern Munich’s season, Thomas Tuchel confirmed on Saturday.
After a skiing injury in December which saw Neuer break his leg, the 37-year-old has been working on a comeback but is likely to miss Bayern’s opening game against Werder Bremen on August 18.
“We need a bit of time and patience,” said Tuchel. “A comeback in the Bundesliga opener or the Supercup [the previous week] is probably too ambitious. We’re looking and hoping he will be integrated in August.”
In the next few days, Neuer will continue to train individually and won’t travel with the club as part of their Asia tour. “He will alternate between individual athletic training and individual goalkeeper training,” added Tuchel, who hopes to have Neuer back in team training upon their return: “That would be the ideal course.”
Neuer’s delayed return leaves Bayern Munich in a less than ideal goalkeeping situation ahead of the 2023/24 season. Alexander Nübel is expected to leave the club, and Yann Sommer is unlikely to retain his place as Bayern’s No. 1 when Neuer returns, and so the Swiss ‘keeper is working on an exit with Inter pushing for his signature.
One potential option for Bayern Munich is Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili, but the Spanish side expect to receive a figure of around €30m for the Georgian.
GGFN | Daniel Pinder
