Max Eberl says Bayern Munich’s Konrad Laimer could not walk after foot injury

Konrad Laimer was forced out of Bayern Munich’s friendly against RB Leipzig on Saturday after suffering an early foot injury, with sporting board member Max Eberl saying the Austria international was unable to walk normally.

Laimer appeared to be struggling to continue after taking a blow early in the match. His foot quickly swelled, prompting Bayern to remove him as a precaution while the club assessed the severity of the problem.

“Konni received a knock relatively early on, and his foot quickly became swollen. That is why he came off as a precaution,” Eberl told German newspaper BILD.

The extent of Laimer’s injury remains unclear, with Bayern yet to establish how long he could be unavailable.

“It was so obvious that he was no longer able to walk and needed someone to help him. You saw that, and he was not moving normally,” Eberl added.

Asked about a possible recovery timeline, Eberl said: “I really cannot say today how long it will take.”

The concern comes at an important point in Bayern’s preparations for the new season. The Bundesliga champions are due to begin their competitive campaign against Borussia Dortmund in the German Super Cup on 22 August.

Laimer’s injury will therefore be monitored closely, although Bayern have not yet confirmed a diagnosis or indicated whether the midfielder will miss that fixture.

Despite the setback, Bayern produced a positive result in Saturday’s warm-up match, beating RB Leipzig 3-1. Luis Diaz, Nathaniel Brown and Jamal Musiala scored for the Bavarian side.

Morocco international Ismael Saibari created Bayern’s third goal on his first appearance for the record Bundesliga champions.

The match provided Bayern with an opportunity to build fitness and cohesion before the German Super Cup, but Laimer’s early departure overshadowed the victory. Eberl’s comments suggest the club will need to wait for further medical assessment before determining the player’s availability for the start of the season.

Laimer has been used in a range of midfield and defensive roles by Bayern, but the club’s immediate focus is now on the condition of his foot after he left the pitch unable to move freely. With the opening competitive fixture approaching, Bayern will hope the injury proves to be no more than the precautionary concern initially described by Eberl.