Manuel Neuer keeps Bayern Munich future open after revealing retirement uncertainty

Manuel Neuer has refused to confirm whether he will retire next summer after helping Bayern Munich beat RB Leipzig 3-1 in a friendly on Saturday.

The experienced goalkeeper and Bayern captain said he was pleased with his side’s performance, despite head coach Vincent Kompany making a large number of changes during the match.

“First of all, I have to say that the feeling is good. Every friendly match must be taken seriously, regardless of the team we face,” Neuer told reporters after the final whistle.

Bayern had also produced a strong display against Aston Villa during their tour of Asia, and Neuer believes the performance against RB Leipzig showed the squad was continuing to prepare properly for the competitive campaign.

“We also played against Aston Villa in Asia and gave a very convincing performance, and the same was true today,” he said. “Of course, there were a lot of changes, and the coach tried to give players minutes and manage their playing time a little. We deserved to win today and put in a good performance.”

The 39-year-old’s comments about his future were less definitive. Neuer had previously suggested that the 2026-27 season could be the final campaign of his career after extending his Bayern contract by one year, but his latest remarks indicate that he has not completely closed the door on continuing beyond that point.

“I will let things take their natural course and then see what happens. I will play the season with the aim of competing for the biggest targets, and after that we will see what happens,” Neuer said.

Neuer joined Bayern Munich from Schalke in 2011 and has been a central figure in the club’s success, while also captaining Germany for many years. His present contract extension had been viewed as a possible indication that his playing career was approaching its conclusion, although he has now made clear that he will not make a final decision yet.

For the immediate future, Neuer’s focus is on Bayern’s competitive fixtures. The match against RB Leipzig formed part of the club’s preparations for the German Super Cup against Borussia Dortmund next Saturday.

Bayern will then begin their Bundesliga campaign against Stuttgart on 28 August. Neuer said his priority during the season would be to challenge for the most important honours before reassessing his position once the campaign has progressed.

The friendly victory gave Kompany an opportunity to manage the squad’s workload while maintaining momentum ahead of the new season. Despite the extensive rotation, Bayern claimed a convincing result, with Neuer concluding that the team had shown enough quality and seriousness to merit the win.

No final retirement date has therefore been announced, leaving the experienced goalkeeper’s Bayern Munich future open beyond the next season.