Bayern Munich have enjoyed a positive start to the 2025/26 campaign. They have won all five of their domestic games. Apart from scoring consistently in these five games, Bayern have also kept two clean sheets. Manuel Neuer has looked in great touch, making good saves and helping the team in possession with his accurate passing.
Neuer didn’t have much to do against Hamburg on Saturday as the visitors managed only two shots on target. However, Neuer showed his impeccable sweeping and passing skills when Die Roten were dominating the proceedings.
The 38-year-old remains one of the best goalkeepers in Europe. His place in Bayern’s starting XI is as good as fixed in crucial games. Considering the good start to the season for Neuer, there have been reports suggesting his return to the national team.
Neuer’s agent also fuelled the speculation while speaking to Frankfurter Rundschau (via Goal) a few days ago. Thomas Kroth admitted that Neuer will not reject a call-up if Julian Nagelsmann needs him in the squad. However, Neuer squashed these suggestions while talking to the media (via ZDF) on Saturday after the 5-0 win against Hamburg.
"It's not conceivable for me to return to the national team. I had deliberately decided to retire; that was a conscious decision. And that’s how it will stay."Manuel Neuer
After the Euros in 2024, Neuer had hung up his boots from international football, making 124 appearances for Germany. The German national team didn’t have a stable goalkeeper after Neuer’s retirement since Marc-Andre Ter Stegen has been on the sidelines due to different injuries.
Neuer is potentially looking to prolong his career at Bayern
The words from Neuer on Saturday suggest that he is looking to prolong his career at Bayern. Neuer will get a good amount of recovery time by avoiding playing for the national team during international breaks over the entire season.
Bayern have been renewing Neuer’s contract on a yearly basis, which has been their policy for players above 30. It does look like this could be Neuer’s last season as number one at Die Roten, with Jonas Urbig waiting in the wings. Urbig got an opportunity in the DFB Pokal before the international break. He is expected to play a decent number of games after doing well to deputize for Neuer during the second half of last season.
The Bavarian club will have a decision to make in the goalkeeping department at the end of the season. Alexander Nubel and Daniel Peretz will return from their loan spells. As things stand, Urbig looks favourite to be Neuer’s successor. However, things could change depending on the performance of all goalkeepers on Bayern’s books.