Manuel Neuer’s future with FC Bayern is expected to be clarified soon. The 40-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season. It is not yet certain whether the longtime captain will end his extraordinary career this summer or extend it for another year.
As reported by *kicker*, Bayern officials plan to seek a meeting with Neuer during the international break in November. A detailed discussion about his future is expected to take place no later than the off-season around the turn of the year.
The Munich club also plans to speak with Sven Ulreich, whose contract likewise expires this summer. It is considered quite likely that both veterans will retire. In Neuer’s case in particular, the decision is likely to have far-reaching implications for the goalkeeping hierarchy at the record-holding champions.
Neuer has already hinted at retirement
It’s no secret that Neuer himself is giving serious thought to retiring. Back in the summer, the 2014 World Cup champion spoke unusually candidly about his future during training camp at Tegernsee.
“It’s looking very much like I’ll be retiring,” Neuer said at the time. The Bayern captain even revealed that retiring a year earlier would have been a possibility. However, because he continues to greatly enjoy working with the team and the coaching staff on a daily basis, he decided to continue his career.
Whether he still feels that way next summer is likely to play a major role in his decision. Neuer will be 41 by then and has been the goalkeeper for Germany’s record-holding champions for many years now.
On the field, Bayern continues to have confidence in their captain. At the same time, club officials have long since made plans for the post-Neuer era.
Urbig is ready to succeed Neuer
With Jonas Urbig, the Munich club already has the designated successor on its own roster. The 23-year-old is set to become the clear number one once the Neuer era ends and has been specifically prepared for this role since his transfer from 1. FC Köln.
Should Neuer and Ulreich indeed end their careers at the same time, FC Bayern would still need to be active in the transfer market next summer. In this scenario, however, the club isn’t looking for a competitor for Urbig, but rather an experienced backup goalkeeper.
According to *kicker*, this goalkeeper should bring experience and soccering ability to the table, while costing as little as possible in transfer fees and accepting the role as Urbig’s backup. Three candidates—Finn Dahmen of FC Augsburg, Oliver Baumann, and Bernd Leno—are already being discussed internally. So far, however, there has reportedly been no contact with any of the goalkeepers.
Before Bayern finalizes its search, however, one question in particular will likely need to be clarified: Will Neuer actually retire this summer? The first crucial discussions on this matter are already scheduled for November.