Neuer’s Agreement to Share Starting Role at Bayern Munich
Prior to Bayern Munich’s Champions League playoff away match against Celtic Glasgow, captain Manuel Neuer surprised the team with an announcement regarding the club’s goalkeeping position. Winter signing Jonas Urbig can now expect to start games for Bayern even when Neuer himself is fit and ready to play, according to the Bayern skipper.
"It’s true that we have an agreement and that we want Jonas to continue developing," Neuer said. "And he can only do that if he plays. Accordingly, in consultation with the coach and our goalkeeping team, there will be games in which Jonas plays."
Unlike in the past, Neuer, who recently extended his contract until 2026, will willingly give up some matches to his younger teammate. This will benefit Urbig, a U21 international goalkeeper who was signed from 1. FC Köln and is contracted to Bayern until 2029.
"If Jonas had joined Bayern sooner, he would have already gotten some games," Neuer said with a smile. "I’m assuming that he’ll get at least two next season, including the cup games that I’ll miss." Neuer received a red card in Bayern’s DFB-Pokal defeat against Bayer Leverkusen and will carry the suspension into next season.
New Signing Hiroki Ito Returns from Injury
Meanwhile, manager Vincent Kompany is excited to welcome back a player he has been eagerly waiting for: Hiroki Ito. The 25-year-old is in the squad for Wednesday’s playoff first leg at Celtic Park after a long layoff.
"Hiroki was very good for us in preseason," Kompany said. "It was a shame that he was out for so long." Ito was signed from VfB Stuttgart for around 23 million euros before this season but sustained a metatarsal fracture in preseason and has been out ever since.
However, Kompany pointed out the difficulty of reintegrating Ito into the team. "We now have more players with experience and quality, but fitness is difficult to judge. He looked good in training, but unfortunately I can’t organize a friendly for him at short notice," the Belgian said.
More Details on the Neuer-Urbig Agreement
Neuer’s agreement with Urbig is a significant departure from the past, when the goalkeeper was the undisputed starter. The move is intended to help Urbig develop and gain experience in top-level matches.
It is unclear exactly how many games Urbig will start for Bayern next season, but Neuer has indicated that he will likely miss at least two matches due to his cup suspension. The German veteran also acknowledged that Urbig’s performances in training have impressed him.
Ito’s Return Boosts Bayern’s Defense
Ito’s return from injury is a significant boost to Bayern’s defense. The Japanese international is known for his excellent reflexes and athleticism, and he is expected to provide strong competition for Neuer.
Kompany will have to carefully manage Ito’s fitness and playing time, as the goalkeeper has not played a competitive match in over six months. However, the Belgian is confident that Ito can make a significant contribution to Bayern’s title defense.
Conclusion
Manuel Neuer’s agreement to share the starting role with Jonas Urbig and the return of Hiroki Ito provide Bayern Munich with a strong and experienced goalkeeping corps. The moves are indicative of the club’s commitment to developing young talent and maintaining its high standards in all positions.
