Bayern Munich goalkeeping legend Manuel Neuer has admitted he is increasingly likely to retire at the end of the Bundesliga season.
The 40-year-old is preparing for his 21st Bundesliga season and remains focused on helping Bayern challenge for more major honours.
However, he knows the physical and mental demands of playing at the highest level are becoming harder to manage.
“It’s just a physical feeling that I have, and it’s also hard and exhausting to play,” Neuer told the DFL. “It’s not just physical, but also all the stress, having to bring in a lot, and also having an important function and role in the team.”
Despite those demands, Neuer said he is enjoying his preparations and has no doubts about giving everything to Bayern this season.
“But I’m definitely looking forward to this season and will give it my all,” he said. “And then, we’ll see in the end how likely it is whether it continues or whether it’s over.”
Neuer believes Bayern’s strong pre-season has given him plenty to look forward to. He said he felt good during preparations despite the demands of travelling to different time zones during the summer.
“I definitely feel very good,” Neuer said. “We have used the days here to train well again. I think we played well in the friendly matches.”
If this is Neuer’s final season, he will have the chance to finish his Bayern career with another historic campaign. The veteran goalkeeper has already won the treble and could now chase the feat for a third time.
Looking back on his career, Neuer highlighted his first Bundesliga title, Bayern’s treble triumph and the many teammates who helped shape his career.
“There are so many players I have played with, whom I am very grateful for, from whom I learned a lot,” he said. “They also made me who I am today.”
One fixture stands above the rest for Neuer, however. His years at Schalke before moving to Bayern have made matches against Borussia Dortmund particularly special.
“I have to say games against Dortmund, to be honest,” Neuer said. “There is my past with Schalke, then the derbies against Dortmund. And then, if you look further, the ‘Klassiker’ has always been the most special game in the Bundesliga.”
Bayern will face Dortmund in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup on Saturday before opening their Bundesliga campaign against Stuttgart on 28 August.
