Foot: Neuer still too fair to return with Bayern

When entering the lawn of the Allianz Arena this Saturday evening for the German Super Cup against RB Leipzig, on the notes of Music by John Miles, the holder will be Sven Ulreich, eternal number two in Munich goals in the shadow of Manuel Neuer since 2015. Seriously injured in the right knee (fracture of the lower part, the German media spoke of a double open tibia-fibula fracture) in December, Neuer had a plan in mind after his operation: to be 100% from the first day of Bayern's summer preparation in mid-July, seven and a half months after his accident on skis.

But things don't go as planned for the 2014 world champion, the best in his position during his heyday in the mid-2010s. He has yet to take part in collective training and has only completed a few specific exercises on his side. Neuer underwent surgery ten days ago to remove a piece of metal from his injured leg, a planned procedure according to Bayern, but his physical condition has stirred up the German press in recent days. The daily Bild even claims that the goalkeeper has difficulty shooting and passing with his foot and that his return to the pitch will not happen before the start of 2024. The bi-weekly Kicker explains that a return, as it stands, is now estimated at the end of September or the beginning of October.

"I wouldn't want to put him in a race against time, it doesn't help him. I just want to do everything I can to help him,” Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel told a press conference on Friday, refusing to speculate.

To compensate for the absence of its top goalkeeper for the end of the 2022/23 season, Bayern had signed Mönchengladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer until the summer of 2025. But the Swiss international signed this Monday at Inter Milan , where he will start after the departure of Cameroonian Andre Onana to Manchester United. After loaning Alexander Nübel to Stuttgart, Bayern find themselves with only one experienced goalkeeper, Sven Ulreich, and are busy finding a last-minute solution. “We are looking for what no one else on the football planet is looking for: someone who has the potential and the personality to be No.1 at Bayern, and then, if Manu comes back and we hope so, put his pride aside. to accept Manu as N.1”, recognized Tuchel. "It's too little to have only Sven for the next few weeks, until Manu comes back, even if we are happy that Sven is here," he added.

According to Sky Sports Germany, the Munich club made a first offer to Chelsea on Thursday for the one-year loan with option to buy Spaniard Kepa Arrizabalaga (28).

At 37, Neuer hopes to return 100% to play Euro-2024 at home next summer. But Hansi Flick has already announced that there is no guarantee that Neuer will recover his place of N.1. The Mannschaft coach has a world-class goalkeeper in Marc-André ter Stegen, who has had an excellent season in goal for Barça.