English Premier League
Manuel Neuer keeps Bayern Munich retirement decision open after Leipzig win
Manuel Neuer has again refused to confirm when he will retire, saying he will focus on helping Bayern Munich compete for the biggest honours before deciding what comes next.
The experienced goalkeeper and captain was speaking after Bayern’s 3-1 friendly victory over RB Leipzig on Saturday. Neuer was pleased with the performance and said Bayern had approached the match seriously, despite coach Vincent Kompany making a large number of changes to his line-up.
“First of all, I have to say that the feeling is good. Every friendly should be taken seriously, regardless of which team we face,” Neuer told reporters after the game.
Bayern had also played Aston Villa in Asia during their preparations and Neuer said the team’s display against Leipzig was equally convincing.
“We also played against Aston Villa in Asia and put in a very convincing performance, and the same was true today,” he added. “Of course, there were a lot of changes, and the coach tried to give the players minutes and manage their playing time a little. We deserved to win today and put in a good performance.”
Neuer was then asked about speculation that the forthcoming campaign could be the final season of his career. Rather than confirming his previously suggested retirement timeline, the 39-year-old indicated that he would wait before making a decision.
“I will let things take their course, then see what happens. I will play the season aiming to compete for the biggest targets, and after that we will see what happens,” he said.
The Germany international had previously suggested that the 2026-27 season could be the last of his career. He recently extended his Bayern contract for one season, but his latest comments leave open the possibility that he could change his decision.
Neuer has been Bayern’s first-choice goalkeeper and captain for many years, although no decision has yet been announced about his future beyond the newly extended contract. His immediate focus will be on Bayern’s competitive fixtures as they complete their pre-season preparations.
Saturday’s match against Leipzig was part of that build-up. Bayern will face Borussia Dortmund in the German Super Cup next Saturday, before beginning their Bundesliga campaign against Stuttgart on 28 August.
The victory gave Kompany’s side another positive result before those fixtures, while Neuer’s remarks ensured that questions about the later stages of his career will continue into the new season. For now, however, the goalkeeper’s stated priority is to compete for Bayern’s major objectives before reassessing his future.
