Manuel Neuer wants to stay at FC Bayern. © ANSA / MOHAMMED BADRA

Manuel Neuer: Another year at FC Bayern?

At FC Bayern Munich, the signs are increasingly pointing to a 16th football season with captain Manuel Neuer in goal. The decision is imminent in the final stretch of the season.

01 May 2026

From: dpa

"It won't drag on indefinitely," said sporting director Christoph Freund. While an agreement on another year of the 40-year-old captain's contract isn't finalized yet, Freund emphasized once again: "But of course, we're talking." That would hardly be the case if Neuer actually wanted to end his illustrious career at the end of the season. "We're talking with Manu. We're talking with his entourage, with his agent," Freund said. Neuer's agent, Thomas Kroth, was spotted at the club grounds on Thursday.

"Today is May 1st, the season isn't endless anymore. We're having good talks, but there's nothing further to announce yet," said Freund. Besides his annual salary, which is expected to be lower than before, an important topic in the negotiations between Bayern's management and Neuer's representatives will be the future of Jonas Urbig. The 22-year-old is being groomed by coach Vincent Kompany to be Neuer's backup and is expected to play even more frequently in the future.

Manuel Neuer could remain with FC Bayern. © APA/afp / INA FASSBENDER

Between the Champions League semi-final matches against Paris Saint-Germain, Urbig will also be in goal instead of Neuer on Saturday (3:30 pm) against the bottom-placed team 1. FC Heidenheim, as Kompany confirmed the day before the match.

Neuer “still in superb condition”

Freund spoke of "a very special constellation" with Neuer and Urbig. "This is a fantastic situation for us as a club. Manu is now at an advanced age. He passes on his experience and is still in superb form himself, playing really good games. Jonas benefits enormously from this. He has played a lot of games and performed very well," Freund explained.

“Everyone knows that after such a long era – and Manu’s isn’t over yet – making a transition (in goal) is a challenge. If we can all manage that together, it would be a great success for FC Bayern,” added the sporting director. Neuer has already celebrated his 13th league title in Munich this season. His big goal now is to also win the DFB Cup and the Champions League, thus securing Bayern’s third treble after 2013 and 2020.