Jamal Musiala recently had to undergo surgery following the German national team’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup. It was a planned procedure, as was immediately reported. It is not expected to hinder his return to full strength.
The metal was removed from his surgically treated leg. This is a completely routine procedure and is only to be expected after an injury like the one the Bayern star suffered at the 2025 Club World Cup.
It’s unlikely that the metal caused any major limitations. But perhaps it affected him mentally to some extent. In any case, Musiala is expected to rejoin the record champions’ preseason training—which begins on July 20—fairly soon.
Musiala: More Competition in the New Season
The big question everyone—including Musiala himself—is asking: When will the old, carefree, cheeky Musiala return? Lately, it has often seemed as though he wanted to perform but couldn’t quite do everything. His World Cup performance was also below his usual standards.
His explosiveness is an issue. He’s retained his close ball control, but in the first few meters, he lacks the ability to break away from plays with great dynamism. That’s something he’s now working on. The preseason preparations, including individual training, will also be used to squeeze those last few percentage points out of Musiala.
There’s no question, however, that the record champions have the very highest expectations. And waiting for a player who still needs time is, at least in part, risky.
Bayern remains patient, but has also prepared for this scenario. The signing of Ismael Saibari is a clear indication of this. The club trusts Musiala, but also has other players on the roster who can step into his role. Serge Gnabry often played in the attacking central midfield position last season, and Michael Olise has also impressively demonstrated at the World Cup that he can play there.
Musiala himself, according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, isn’t worried about losing his favorite position. He knows that patience can and will pay off if he returns to consistent form. The fact that almost all of the attacking players currently available to FC Bayern are versatile is, of course, an advantage.
For the player himself, however, it would still be important to break out of his slump as soon as possible in the new season—so that patience doesn’t turn into self-doubt.