MUNICH: Bayern Mun­ich captain Manuel Neuer will likely not play again in 2024, coach Vincent Kom­pany said on Monday.

Kompany said “he’s got a broken rib, which means he probably won’t play again this year.

“What’s important is that it heals now. Hopefully from the start of January we’ll have Manu back, but for now it’s too early.”

Kompany confirmed Neuer broke his rib in a collision with Bayer Leverk­usen’s Jeremie Frimpong on Tuesday, for which the goalie also picked up the first red card of his 866-game career.

Bayern are missing several first-team players as an injury crisis sweeps through the club.

Neuer, Harry Kane, Kingsley Coman, Alphonso Davies, Joao Palhinha, Serge Gnabry, Josip Stani­sic, Hiroki Ito and Mathys Tel are all on the injured list, while back-up ‘keeper Sven Ulreich is out for personal reasons.

“We’re missing a lot of players, but I think we’ve come through well so far,” Kompany said.

Neuer’s absence means Bayern’s third-choice goal­ie, Daniel Peretz, will get a chance to start between the sticks. `Bayern are currently top in the Bundesliga standing, six points clear of second-place Eintracht Frankfurt.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2024