Possible extension with Manuel Neuer: FC Bayern sees no need for action yet | OneFootball

The future of Manuel Neuer remains one of the dominant topics around FC Bayern – and yet there is currently little reason to rush. Sporting director Max Eberl has now once again publicly commented on the captain’s situation and outlined a clear time frame. Talks about a possible extension should deliberately not be rushed, but should only take place towards the end of the season

„Manu will be 40 in March. The way Manu is currently performing is world class,“ explained Eberl in an interview with BILD. For the 52-year-old, there is no question that the goalkeeper continues to perform at the highest level. However, another factor is decisive: „At some point, the body is no longer ready for professional soccer, but that is not the case with Manu at the moment.“ This is precisely why FC Bayern currently sees no pressure to act

Neuer talks not planned until spring

Instead of rash decisions, Eberl is relying on calm and timing. „We are relaxed. Towards the end of the season, April, May, we will talk and see how it goes. At the moment, he is doing incredibly well,“ the sporting director clarified. The goalkeeper’s current contract expires in the summer of 2026 – so there is no acute pressure to make a move

This calmness is in line with the current sporting situation. Bayern dominate the Bundesliga, are in a stable position both nationally and internationally and can afford to clarify key personnel issues without public pressure. Especially with a club icon like Neuer, you don’t want to rush things

Eberl had already taken a public stance on Neuer’s future before the emphatic away win in Leipzig, when he was directly asked about a possible extension in a TV interview after Lothar Matthäus had remarked, in view of the strong season, that „now we just have to extend Manuel Neuer’s contract“. Eberl deliberately avoided making a clear commitment

Lessons learned from the Müller case

photo: IMAGO

Instead, the Bayern boss reacted with a wink and referred to experiences from the recent past. „I was briefed for this interview. There was one line: ‚Have you learned from Thomas Müller?‘ Then you know what’s coming now,“ said Eberl. The background to this is the handling of Thomas Müller, whose publicly promised contract extension at the beginning of 2025 was later revoked by honorary president Uli Hoeneß. Since then, the club management has been much more cautious when making public personnel commitments

Eberl’s further statement was also made accordingly: „We will wait and see. Manu should turn 40 first. Then we’ll see what happens.“ A clear message: FC Bayern wants to make the decision together with the player – at the right time and without external pressure

Neuer deliberately remains open

Manuel Neuer himself is also holding back with clear statements. The 39-year-old had already emphasized in December that it was primarily about his own body for him. „It’s really also about the moment to say, okay, how is my body? How is my health? Does it make sense to continue? And I have to delay this decision a little longer,“ the captain explained at the time, holding out the prospect of a personal decision „towards the end of March, April“

After his strong performance in Leipzig, in which he shone with a spectacular save against Yan Diomande, Neuer was once again asked about his future. When asked whether he could even think about retiring after such actions, he replied in his usual matter-of-fact manner: „We’ll see. I can’t answer that yet. But of course it was important.“

There is every indication that the player and club are acting in perfect sync in this personnel matter. No public ultimatums, no unnecessary pressure – just a joint decision-making process. At FC Bayern, they know that Manuel Neuer is not just about any contract, but about the end or continuation of an era.