„My gut feeling tells me…“: Insider expects Neuer’s career to end | OneFootball

There is still a big question mark over Manuel Neuer’s sporting future at FC Bayern. The 39-year-old has continued to deliver consistently good performances this season, but the captain of the German record champions has not yet made a final decision on whether he will extend his contract, which expires in the summer, or end his extraordinary career. One Bayern insider now expects Neuer to hang up his goalkeeping gloves in the summer of 2026

While the signs are clearly pointing towards contract extensions for players such as Serge Gnabry and Konrad Laimer, those in charge at Säbener Straße are keeping a conspicuously low profile when it comes to Neuer. The goalkeeper himself has also avoided making any concrete statements in recent weeks. Neuer has repeatedly emphasised that his future depends largely on his physical condition. Translated, this means that if the veteran continues to feel fit, an extension is conceivable in principle

Decision to be made in spring

photo: IMAGO

Reports have recently been circulating that there is currently no clear trend with Neuer. The club and player are said to view the situation as a classic 50:50 decision. The plan is therefore to have another intensive discussion in the spring and then make a final decision. For Bayern, this would be the logical time to create planning security for the coming season

While fans and observers continue to speculate, a prominent insider has taken a clear stance. Sky reporter and Bayern expert Florian Plettenberg does not expect Neuer to extend his contract for another season. In his annual preview, he openly stated: „My gut feeling about Neuer tells me that he will end his career.“

A farewell with historic weight

Should Neuer actually decide to end his career, one of the most successful eras in the club’s history would come to an end at FC Bayern. The 2014 world champion has been the undisputed number one in goal for Munich for almost 15 years. During this time, he has collected national and international titles on an assembly line and has shaped the modern goalkeeping game like no other. Neuer was not only a back-up, but also a playmaker, leader and identification figure at the same time

Bayern are prepared for the eventuality of his departure, however. In Jonas Urbig, they already have a potential successor in their ranks. The 22-year-old is being carefully groomed and has already shown on several occasions this season that he has what it takes to follow in Neuer’s footsteps in the long term. Whether and when the generational change will take place now depends on one decision in particular – probably the most important personnel issue in the Bayern goal for over a decade.