Manuel Neuer hasn’t had much luck with injuries this season. Most recently, he was struggling with a foot injury that forced him to sit out several games. As a result, he has only seen sporadic action in recent weeks. He was injured again during Saturday’s match against Mainz.
For the first time in quite a while, Neuer was in goal for Bayern’s 2-1 Bundesliga victory in Mainz. But not for long. After a free kick by Mainz—which Neuer misjudged—the goalkeeper received medical attention and was subsequently substituted.
Immediately after the game, there was already speculation that the Bayern captain’s injury was more than just a minor one. On Sunday, it was announced that further examinations by a specialist are necessary.
Neuer’s diagnosis has now been confirmed
FC Bayern Munich has since announced the goalkeeper’s diagnosis. According to the report, Neuer has suffered a partial tendon tear in his right foot. This will result in a prolonged absence. According to information from BILD, he is expected to be sidelined for about two months. However, this is only a rough estimate, as many factors play a role.
In the meantime, Jonas Urbig will be in goal for FC Bayern. Neuer’s backup has already seen some playing time this season and has recently been between the posts significantly more often than the experienced No. 1.
Even before this more serious injury, there were signs that Urbig would see more playing time because Neuer has been dealing with recurring issues. At this point, the question arises as to how sensible it is to continue designating Neuer as the starting goalkeeper, given that the situation has shifted since the start of the new season.
What’s clear for now is that the year is over for the goalkeeper. Whether he’ll be able to return to full action immediately after the winter break depends largely on how his recovery progresses. Neuer, in particular, has repeatedly struggled in recent years when coming back from injury.
