Manuel Neuer’s future at FC Bayern remains open – and it is linked to clear prerequisites. In an interview with SPORT1, sporting director Max Eberl made it clear that a contract extension for the soon-to-be 40-year-old captain is not automatic
„He has to be performing at the top level – as he is at the moment. That should also be the case in the coming season. It’s about how Manuel feels, whether he wants to and whether he sees himself in a position to show his performance for another year,“ Eberl explained unequivocally. The 2014 world champion’s current contract expires in the summer
The 52-year-old thus makes it clear that the decision is not solely up to the club – but also not solely up to the player. Rather, in the coming weeks, the aim is to explore together whether the conditions are in place for another year at the highest level. „We have to talk about what his motivation and tension are like. That’s what we expect as a club and that’s what we want to find out together with him,“ said Eberl
Comfortable goalkeeper situation as leverage?
Despite all the appreciation – Eberl described Neuer as a „legend“ in a „very crucial position“ – the record champions feel no pressure to act. Internally, they see themselves well positioned in the goalkeeping department. „Our goalkeeping situation is comfortable with Manuel as number 1, Jonas Urbig behind him, Sven Ulreich as an experienced man and Alexander Nübel, who is still on loan to VfB Stuttgart,“ emphasized the sporting director
The development of Jonas Urbig in particular is likely to play a central role in the considerations. The 22-year-old is regarded as the designated successor and has already indicated his potential on several occasions
Regardless of Neuer’s personnel, Eberl announced changes to the squad anyway. „Of course there will be changes to the squad in the summer. We’ll see how big they are,“ he said. Leon Goretzka’s departure is already certain, as are the contracts of Sven Ulreich, Raphael Guerreiro and loan striker Nicolas Jackson
For Neuer, however, it’s about more than just another contract. It’s about the question of whether an era will be extended once again – or whether FC Bayern will finally enter a new goalkeeping era in the summer.
