Manuel Neuer turns 40: Gianluigi Buffon offers advice on Bayern star's next career move | OneFootball

Manuel Neuer celebrates his 40th birthday today, and to mark the occasion, Bayern Munich spoke with another legendary goalkeeper – Italian great Gianluigi Buffon – about the German star’s remarkable career and the decisions facing him now.

With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, Neuer faces a tough choice: extend his career or hang up his gloves. Buffon advised his fellow goalkeeper to take his time and listen to himself before making the decision.

“I wish him all the best from the bottom of my heart and congratulate him on a career at the very highest level. And I want to tell him: don’t rush your decision; listen to yourself calmly. Unlike what we goalkeepers usually do, he doesn’t have to make a split-second decision – he just has to make the right one,” Buffon told FC Bayern’s club magazine, 51.

Like Neuer, Buffon was also still playing at the age of 40. 

“I had just moved to Paris Saint-Germain! So he can keep going for five more years,” Buffon said with a laugh.

“No, he should retire when he feels it’s right. I was crazy; I thought, if I go to Paris, I could win the Golden Glove again,” added the Italian legend, who retired in 2023 at the age of 45.

“I liked him immediately”

In the interview, Buffon reflected on the first time he took notice of Neuer – fifteen years ago, when the future Bayern goalkeeper was playing for Schalke 04.

“It was in the spring of 2011 when Schalke played at San Siro. He had a great physique, an impressive stature, and he seemed very motivated. A bit like I was at the start of my career at Parma. Back then, I always came out of goal boldly – just as Neuer liked to play outside the penalty area,” Buffon said.

“I liked his attitude; he had exactly the right presence: lots of energy and self-confidence, sometimes bordering on euphoria when coming off his line – but that’s part of being young.”

The two goalkeepers faced each other for the first time in 2011, in a friendly between Germany and Italy.

"I was very curious to see him live. I liked him immediately; he made a big impression," said Buffon.

Neuer has made 590 appearances for FC Bayern, 203 for Schalke 04, and represented Germany 124 times before retiring from international football in 2024. 

He has won almost everything there is to win, including 12 Bundesliga titles, two Champions League trophies, and the 2014 World Cup.