Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany has confirmed that goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has suffered a broken rib and will likely be out until 2025.
Neuer, 38, missed Bayern’s Bundesliga win over Heidenheim on Saturday but is now expected to miss games against Mainz and RB Leipzig, as well as Tuesday’s Champions League tie against Shakhtar Donetsk in Gelsenkirchen.
The goalkeeper sustained the injury during the first half of Bayern’s DFB-Pokal defeat to Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, having collided with Jeremie Frimpong after racing from his goal in an attempt to clear the ball. Neuer was sent off for the challenge — the first red card of his 20-year professional career.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League game, Kompany said: “It’s a broken rib, he probably won’t play again this year. It’s important that it heals, then we’ll have Manu back from January.”
Bayern are also without second-choice goalkeeper Sven Ulreich, meaning that third-choice Daniel Peretz — who started his first Bundesliga game against Heidenheim — will be making his Champions League against Shakhtar.
Neuer is the latest Bayern player to suffer a long-term injury. Joao Palhinha is also out until after the winter break and is part of an injury list that includes Serge Gnabry, Harry Kane, Kingsley Coman, Alphonso Davies and Thomas Muller.
Bayern recently welcomed Aleksandar Pavlovic back from a broken collarbone, but defender Josip Stanisic has not played since August.
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