In the course of the forthcoming announcement of Yann Sommer, Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann has shown himself to be convinced that Manuel Neuer will show top performances again when he returns.
"In Manu we have an outstanding goalkeeper who will hopefully come back healthy in the summer if the injury heals well, which I assume it will. A fractured bone is generally something that heals very well and that you can put weight on very well afterwards," said the coach FC Bayern Munich before the restart of the Bundesliga on Friday (8.30 p.m. / Sat.1 and DAZN) at RB Leipzig.
Summer before moving to Munich
According to media reports, the record German soccer champions from Munich and Borussia Mönchengladbach have agreed to transfer the 34-year-old. The Swiss World Cup keeper should sign a contract with Munich until June 30, 2025. Borussia should collect a lavish transfer fee of eight million euros plus bonus payment for Sommer, whose contract in Mönchengladbach only lasted until the end of June. Neuer's contract ends on June 30, 2024, in the coming season the two veterans would be competitors for the place in the Bayern goal.
Nagelsmann said before the Leipzig game that the new season would not play a role for him if he signed a goalkeeper in winter. "My job is to organize the second half of the season so that I'm firmly in the saddle in the summer. Then I can think about the summer." As a trainer, you are measured by day-to-day business, and other people in charge think about strategic squad planning.
Neuer will be out until the end of the season
When Neuer returns, "we're delighted with his great quality," Nagelsmann said of the goalkeeper missing due to a broken leg. "Now we're giving him time to recover and we're giving ourselves time to hopefully make good games." Neuer suffered the injury in a skiing accident at the end of last year. He will be out until the end of the season.
The Munich team want to set an example with the opening duel at RB Leipzig. In the only preparatory game, Sven Ulreich (34) and Johannes Schenk (20) were in goal in the 4-4 win over Red Bull Salzburg. After that, Nagelsmann had pointed out the need for a goalkeeper commitment.
Ulreich's contract, like Neuer's, expires on June 30, 2024. "Ulle is aware of his role," said Nagelsmann. "If we need him, it's important that he's there." Ulreich can handle any role "because he's intelligent and has a good character." Before the winter break, Ulreich made three appearances each in the Bundesliga and Champions League and twice in the DFB Cup. FC Bayern won all games.
