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UPDATE: Bayern Munich has announced that Manuel Neuer fractured his foot during Bayern’s 4-2 loss to Real Madrid on Tuesday. He suffered the injury during Cristiano Ronaldo’s third goal of the match. Neuer will be further evaluated when the club returns to Munich.
Original: Manuel Neuer left the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on crutches following Bayern Munich’s Champions League exit on Tuesday, according to a report from a SportBild reporter. It’s not known yet whether or not this is a reaggravation of his previous injury or something entirely new.
SportBild’s Tobias Altschäffl tweeted out the news late in the evening following the match. Then, in a follow up tweet, Altschäffl tweeted — and prefaced the tweet that it was “unconfirmed” — that Neuer’s foot injury was serious, and he could very well miss the remainder of the season.
Nach dem Aus gegen @realmadrid der nächste Schock: @Manuel_Neuer verließ nach @SPORTBILD-Infos die Kabine auf Krücken @FCBayern #RMAFCB
— Tobias Altschäffl (@altobelli13) April 18, 2017
Erste, unbestätigte (!) Meldung zu @Manuel_Neuer lautet: schwere Fußverletzung, Saisonaus. Wie bitter ☹️ @SPORTBILD @FCBayern
— Tobias Altschäffl (@altobelli13) April 18, 2017
This is obviously terrible news for Neuer and Bayern.
In Neuer’s absence, Bayern will turn to Sven Ulreich to finish out the season for the Bavarians. His backup would be everyone’s favorite giant Tom Starke.
If Neuer is to miss the remainder of the season, it’s quite good news that Jogi Löw is planning on taking a “B-squad” to the FIFA Confederations Cup this summer. That would give the world’s best goalkeeper the chance to fully recover ahead of next season.