Manuel Neuer Tears Calf, Set To Be Sidelined For Foreseeable Future

Last Updated:February 15, 2026, 17:53 IST

Manuel Neuer suffers a torn calf muscle, sidelining him from Bayern Munich. His future is uncertain, with retirement rumors and no contract extension as Bayern chase a treble.

Bayern Munich will be without captain Manuel Neuer for the foreseeable future after the veteran shot-stopper suffered a torn calf muscle, the club confirmed on Sunday.

The 39-year-old was withdrawn at half-time during Saturday’s 3-0 Bundesliga victory away to Werder Bremen, a result that helped Bayern re-establish a six-point cushion over Borussia Dortmund at the top of the table.

Immediately after the match, sporting director Max Eberl described the substitution as precautionary and suggested there was little cause for alarm. However, medical examinations conducted the following day revealed a calf tear more significant than first believed.

In a brief statement, Bayern said they would be “without Manuel Neuer for the time being," but stopped short of providing a timeline for his return.

According to German media reports, Neuer is now a major doubt for Bayern’s trip to Dortmund later this month and is expected to sit out next weekend’s fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Neuer, who turns 40 in March, has struggled with recurring calf issues and missed 10 games last season due to a similar problem. Meanwhile, Bayern’s once-commanding 11-point lead at Christmas has been trimmed, with Dortmund closing the gap after a six-game winning streak.

Earlier, sporting director Christoph Freund had also sought to ease fears.

“He has a slight tightness. It was a precautionary measure. We didn’t want to take any risks, but it shouldn’t be anything serious," Freund said.

Neuer’s future

Neuer’s future at Bayern appears increasingly uncertain after his firm decision not to return to Germany duty. Speaking on the BILD podcast Bayern Insider, journalists Christian Falk and Julian Agardi suggested the 39-year-old could even retire this summer.

Neuer’s clear “No" to a potential 2026 World Cup comeback has fuelled speculation that his club career may also be nearing its end. Meanwhile, reports suggest the situation is “50:50", with Bayern yet to table a contract extension and planning talks during the international break as the club chase a potential treble.

News sports football Manuel Neuer Tears Calf, Set To Be Sidelined For Foreseeable Future

Read More