Manuel Neuer 'very likely' to retire at season's end

Veteran Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has stated that he is "very likely" to retire at the end of the upcoming season. The 40-year-old captain, speaking at a training camp in Bavaria, expressed near certainty that this campaign will be his last.

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It certainly looks very likely I’m going to retire.

Neuer had signed a one-year contract extension in May, a decision he attributed to the appeal of the current Bayern squad. "In 85 percent of cases, I probably would have retired, but being part of this squad, along with the staff and the coaching team, is just fun," he told reporters.

Despite battling a series of muscle injuries, Neuer has maintained a high level of performance. He missed Bayern's German Cup final win in May and sat out several games last season, with backup Jonas Urbig filling in. Bayern remains a strong favorite for the Bundesliga title and a top contender in the Champions League.

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In 85 percent of cases, I probably would have retired, but being part of this squad, along with the staff and the coaching team, is just fun.

However, Neuer emphasized that he does not view the upcoming season as a farewell tour. "I’m not playing these matches just to say, ‘This is my last game.’ It doesn’t matter if I might have visited a particular stadium for the last time," he said. Neuer retired from international football after Euro 2024 but returned for the recent World Cup, where Germany was eliminated in the last 32.

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I’m not playing these matches just to say, ‘This is my last game.’ It doesn’t matter if I might have visited a particular stadium for the last time.