Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer undecided on retirement
With his contract set to expire at the end of June, Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer says he is still weighing up whether to continue playing beyond the 2025/26 season.
Neuer has enjoyed a remarkable career at the highest level for club and country. The Bayern captain appears set to lift his 12th Bundesliga title in the weeks ahead and could yet win the UEFA Champions League for the third time.
Bayern are also in contention to go all the way in the DFB Cup and claim their third continental treble since Neuer joined the club from Schalke in the summer of 2011.
To keep the dream alive, Bayern must first overcome Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final second leg at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday. Germany's record champions lead 2-1 in the tie, thanks in no small part to a goalkeeping clinic from Neuer in the Spanish capital.
"We're in a good position but we mustn't overstate it because we've experienced how Real can fight back in the past. But we're confident," Neuer told media at Tuesday's pre-match press conference, before discussing whether his future hinges on Bayern winning more silverware this season.
"I'd like to make a decision sooner rather than later. But I'm not basing it on titles. Ideally, I'd like us to win them all, but our opponents also have a big say in that. I haven't made up my mind yet, but it won't be long before I do. And then there will be talks with the club."
Watch: Neuer - a save for every season
Neuer, who turned 40 on 27 March and recently entered the Bundesliga's top-10 list of oldest players, is set to make his 594th competitive appearance as a Bayern player in the second leg.
The 2014 FIFA World Cup winner holds the record for most clean sheets in both the Bundesliga (246) and Champions League (64), and is considered by many to be the best goalkeeper of all time.
However, for the great sweeper-keeper himself, a number of stoppers past and present are part of the GOAT conversation.
"If you take the last few decades, two or three aren't enough - it's at least 10. Everyone has their own style. It's a shame that [Thibaut] Courtois is missing for this game," Neuer explained.
"In the past, there were [Peter] Schmeichel, [Oliver] Kahn, [Iker] Casillas, [Gianluigi] Buffon - some really, really good goalkeepers. All have their merits. It's hard to say who the best is."
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