Sunderland AFC’s Ron-Thorben Hoffmann credits Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer for guidance

Ron-Thorben Hoffmann has just completed his loan move to Sunderland AFC after extending his Bayern Munich contract until 2023. There’s an option for Sunderland to buy at the end of the loan and a clause that stipulates Sunderland should buy him if they were to win promotion from English League One to the English Football League (second tier). The move was paired with Leon Dajaku’s move to Sunderland and fans from Tyne and Wear are, for the most part, excited by both arrivals from Bayern.

For Hoffmann, he’s had the fortuitous ability to be able to train alongside Manuel Neuer at Sabener Strasse for sporadic spells during his time with Bayern II and the first team when he’s been called up to the squad. Being able to have that experience with one of the world’s best goalkeepers is something that Hoffmann really said has greatly benefited his personal development in a recent interview with The Shields Gazette.

“He [Neuer] is the best goalkeeper in the world I would say. But not just a great goalkeeper, a great guy and I learned so much from him personally. As a goalkeeper, he’s so quick on his feet and sees the whole game, which is something really special, “Hoffmann said of Bayern’s number 1 keeper. His praise of Neuer is strikingly similar to some of the stronger attributes of his game that he’s shown for Bayern’s reserves. He’s an excellent shot stopper, good with distribution out of the back, and has a commanding presence in his area.

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Hoffmann said he is grateful for everything he’s been able to learn from Neuer and hopes that he can take that to Sunderland and fight for a regular starting spot with Anthony Patterson and Lee Burge. “I’m really happy to have been able to learn from him for five years and hopefully I can take some of that and those skills into my own game, but I want to be my own player, as well,” Hoffmann explained. For Hoffmann, Dajaku, and Sunderland, the next test comes when the Black Cats play host to Accrington Stanley in the league on September 11th.