Neuer Sidelined as Foot Injury Adds to Bayern’s Growing Absentee Crisis
Bayern Munich goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer has joined the club’s lengthy injury list after suffering a partial tendon tear in his right foot during Saturday’s 2-1 Bundesliga victory at Mainz.
The German champions confirmed the diagnosis on Sunday following an examination by the club’s medical department.
Bayern stated that the 40-year-old will be “out for the time being” but did not provide a precise recovery timeline.
German media, including Bild, reported that Neuer is expected to miss approximately two months.
Neuer was forced off shortly before half-time in the Matchday 9 encounter at the MEWA Arena after aggravating an existing foot problem. He was replaced by Jonas Urbig.
The appearance marked Neuer’s 550th Bundesliga game and made him Bayern’s oldest-ever player in the competition at 40 years and 225 days, surpassing the previous record held by Bernd Dreher.
The injury is a recurrence of the tendon issue that had already caused Neuer to miss several matches earlier this season.
He had only recently returned for Bayern’s 2-0 Champions League win at Atlético Madrid earlier in the week.
Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl said after the Mainz match: “It’s the same problem he had before. It’s resurfaced now. We hope it’s not too serious.”
The setback comes at a difficult time for the Bundesliga leaders, who sit top of the table with 21 points from nine matches.
The squad is already without several key players on a long-term basis, including Jamal Musiala, Luis Díaz, Ismael Saibari and Serge Gnabry.
Head coach Vincent Kompany is also currently recovering from illness, with assistant Aaron Danks overseeing recent matches.
Despite the absences, Bayern remain well-covered in goal. Urbig, who has already featured regularly this season, is expected to take over starting duties.
The 23-year-old was among three goalkeepers called up to Jürgen Klopp’s Germany squad last week.
Neuer, a two-time Champions League winner and joint-record holder for Bundesliga titles with 13, has made nine appearances across all competitions this campaign.
The veteran has indicated that the current season is likely to be his last. Bayern next host Cologne on November 20.
By Oyinkansola Shittu.
