Matthäus weighs in on Neuer future at Bayern and with Germany

January 20, 2026 Oliver Obel

Manuel Neuer’s future remains one of the defining questions in German football, but Lothar Matthäus believes the answers at club and national level do not have to align.

Speaking on Sunday at the Legends Cup in Munich, the former Germany captain weighed in on both debates and made clear that, in his view, Bayern Munich and the German national team face very different considerations.

National team: “Put a full stop behind it”

While Neuer’s recent performances have reignited public discussion about a possible return to the national team, Matthäus struck a notably restrained tone on that front.

“Manuel hat einen Punkt gemacht, Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann hat dahinter einen Punkt gemacht,” Matthäus said, referring to Neuer’s decision to step away from international duty in August 2024 and the coach’s acceptance of it.

He acknowledged Neuer’s impact in Bayern’s 5–1 win over RB Leipzig on Saturday, where the 39-year-old produced several decisive saves. Still, Matthäus warned against reopening a settled chapter.

“Natürlich war die Leistung von Manuel Neuer am Samstag gegen Leipzig wieder mit zwei, drei Weltklasse-Paraden sensationell. Aber wenn etwas nicht zusammenkommen will oder nicht zusammenpasst, dann sollte man einen Punkt dahinter machen.”

Instead, Matthäus pointed to continuity in goal. “Ich glaube, mit Baumann hat man zurzeit einen Torhüter, der es gut macht. Jetzt sollte man einfach mal aufhören mit diesen Diskussionen,” he said, backing Oliver Baumann’s current role.

Bayern future: strong case for an extension

Matthäus’ view was far more decisive when it came to Neuer’s club situation. Neuer’s contract with Bayern Munich expires at the end of June, prompting speculation about either a short-term extension or a possible retirement.

“Den würde ich auf jeden Fall verlängern,” Matthäus said. “Ich glaube, da ist man in Gesprächen. Aber anscheinend wollen der FC Bayern und auch Manuel Neuer noch Zeit.”

From Matthäus’ perspective, performance remains the key metric. Neuer’s display in Leipzig was again widely praised, reinforcing the argument that he continues to meet Bayern’s sporting demands despite his age.

A conditional opening

Although Matthäus urged closure on the national team debate, he stopped short of ruling out all scenarios. “Wenn sich noch etwas ändern sollte, weil sich was ändern muss, dann sollten sich die Verantwortlichen zusammen unterhalten,” he said, leaving room for dialogue if circumstances shift.

For now, however, Matthäus’ message was clear: stability matters. Bayern may yet extend the career of one of their most influential players, while the national team, in his view, should resist the temptation to revisit the past.

Sources: BILD