{"id":550492,"date":"2020-04-28T04:51:05","date_gmt":"2020-04-28T08:51:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=550492"},"modified":"2020-04-28T04:51:05","modified_gmt":"2020-04-28T08:51:05","slug":"report-manuel-neuer-and-bayern-munich-embroiled-in-contract-drama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/04\/28\/report-manuel-neuer-and-bayern-munich-embroiled-in-contract-drama\/","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: Manuel Neuer and Bayern Munich Embroiled in Contract Drama"},"content":{"rendered":"

After months of negotiating, Bayern Munich<\/a> and Manuel Neuer<\/a> have yet to agree on a new contract. The German\u2019s current contract at S\u00e4bener Strasse<\/i> is set to expire after the 2020\/21 season. An agreement between the two parties for a two or three-year extension seemed to be a formality until it was announced in January<\/a> that up-and-coming goalkeeper Alexander N\u00fcbel<\/a> would be joining Bayern this summer from Schalke 04.<\/p>\n

Manuel Neuer and Bayern Munich Embroiled in Contract Drama<\/h2>\n

Bayern’s Manuel Neuer Contract Negotiations Are Not Going as Planned<\/h4>\n

Bayern\u2019s leadership are playing a dangerous balancing act. On one side is succession planning. The club wants to prepare for the somewhat near future without the 34-year-old Neuer. The 23-year-old N\u00fcbel represents that future. <\/span><\/p>\n

On the other side is the present. Bayern understands that Neuer is still their number one, club captain, and arguably Europe’s best goalkeeper, while N\u00fcbel is untested, having been Schalke’s number one for just over a year. Bayern are a club with immense pressure, and there is no evidence that N\u00fcbel can handle it. For the next two seasons, Bayern will need Neuer to continue their domestic dominance and challenge for the Champions League.<\/span><\/p>\n

From sharing matches with N\u00fcbel, to how long and valuable the contract should be, the media speculation over the negotiations has been wild, bringing into question whether an agreement will be made at all.<\/span><\/p>\n

Neuer\u2019s Controversial Bild Interview<\/h3>\n

Speculation over Neuer\u2019s Bayern future has been nonstop since January, but the heat got turned up a notch when the goalkeeper and his agent were <\/span>interviewed by<\/span><\/a> Bild am Sonntag<\/span><\/i> last week. <\/span><\/p>\n

The German lamented his disappointment with Bayern over the supposed leaking of confidential contract talks to the media. <\/span>Kicker <\/span><\/i>later reported<\/span><\/a> that these apparent leaks have shattered Neuer\u2019s relationship with Bayern, possibly stalling contract negotiations for weeks or even months.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the Bild <\/i>interview, Neuer commented on the leaks: \u201cWhat irritates me: all the talks that I have had here since 2011 were always conducted very confidentially. Nothing ever leaked outside. Now, though, details from the current talks are constantly to be found in the media, and they often are not even right. Of course, that annoys me. That\u2019s not how I know FC Bayern.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Neuer’s Wage Demands Are Reportedly Astronomical<\/h3>\n

Additionally, the goalkeeper and his agent denied <\/span>earlier reports<\/span><\/a> from <\/span>Bild <\/span><\/i>stating that they were demanding a five-year, \u20ac100 million contract. <\/span>In five years Neuer will be 39, far removed from his prime. One must also wonder if Bayern will be happy with his successor N\u00fcbel playing a secondary role into his late twenties. <\/span><\/p>\n

In terms of wage demands, \u20ac20 million a year would make Neuer the joint-highest paid Bayern player alongside Robert Lewandowski<\/a>. The high asking price was reported by Bild<\/em> to have been <\/span>prompted<\/span><\/a> by the rumoured wages of recent Bayern signings Philippe Coutinho<\/a> and Lucas Hernandez<\/a>. Both reportedly earn \u20ac20 million annually. If true, they show that Neuer is not only angry over the leaks and N\u00fcbel’s appearance guarantee but over the club’s wage hierarchy as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bayern’s Contract Offer to Neuer Takes N\u00fcbel Into Account<\/h3>\n

The record champions are looking to sign<\/a> their number one for two to three years at a lower wage, but include \u201cperformance bonuses.\u201d Neuer is dubious of these bonuses possibly because there is the chance that he is demoted to the bench in one or two seasons. Unfortunately for N\u00fcbel, the captain’s position as the number one is utterly undisputed. Hansi Flick recently confirmed<\/a> Neuer’s starting status. By 2022 or 2023, however, things might be different. N\u00fcbel will play next season, and a bad run of form or injury to Neuer could see the captain demoted. Nothing in football is written in stone. Simply put, it is hard to see how these contract negotiations will end.<\/span><\/p>\n

N\u00fcbel’s Contract Reportedly Guarantees Him\u00a0Matches<\/h3>\n

The announcement that N\u00fcbel would be signing with Bayern began this drama, but the details only made things worse for Neuer. It has been roundly <\/span>reported in Germany<\/span><\/a> that N\u00fcbel\u2019s contract guarantees him 15 appearances next season, putting the speculation of a loan move out of the question. There are only six possible DFB Pokal games if Bayern reach the final, meaning that nine of N\u00fcbel\u2019s appearances could be in the Bundesliga or Champions League. At the same time, Neuer has <\/span>made it clear<\/span><\/a> that he does not plan on sharing matches. When asked about the possible appearance guarantee by <\/span>Bild<\/span><\/i>, Neuer said: \u201cthere is no such thing in competitive sports.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Bayern Want to Keep the World Class Neuer While Planning for the Future<\/h3>\n

Neuer feels disrespected by Bayern’s acquisition of N\u00fcbel, but the move is incredibly risky for the youngsters’ career. If he only makes a handful of appearances over the next one, two, or even three seasons, no one knows what his form will be like once Bayern expect him to play every match. Many are wondering why N\u00fcbel would leave his starting spot at Schalke, where he would gain many hours of priceless top-flight experience, for a minor role at Bayern. Why not join Bayern in 2023 or 2024 when Neuer needs replacing? This is not new, however, like many up and coming German talents have seen their careers stutter at Bayern, and N\u00fcbel could be added to that list.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bayern view Neuer as their number one for the next two or three seasons. The plan, however, is clear: N\u00fcbel will learn from Neuer and then replace him. Bayern are record champions for a reason, and they will ensure that their future goalkeeper is one of Germany\u2019s best. Neuer will concede to earning less than Countinho while accepting that matches will be shared with N\u00fcbel, or Bayern will offer Neuer the reported five year, \u20ac100 million deal. One of the parties will have to compromise. N\u00fcbel’s development, however, could be disrupted, in which case Bayern would be risking Neuer’s departure for nothing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>