Manuel Neuer, captain of Germany and Bayern Munich, is set to miss the rest of the season after fracturing his lower leg while skiing.
In an Instagram post on Saturday, the goalkeeper revealed that he had surgery on Friday. The post includes a photo of Neuer, who appears to be in a hospital bed with his right leg in a cast and his left hand bandaged.
“What can I say, the end of the year could have definitely gone better. “While I was trying to get my head clear while ski touring, I suffered a lower leg fracture. Yesterday’s surgery went well. Many thanks to the doctors! However, it hurts to know that the current season is over for me,”
the 36-year-old wrote in a caption to his post.
After Germany’s group-stage exit from the World Cup, Neuer took some time off. He was scheduled to return to Doha, Qatar, with the rest of the Bayern squad on January 6 for the team’s winter training camp.
Meanwhile, it is unclear whether Alexander Nubel, who is currently on loan in Ligue 1 side AS Monaco, will return to the fray. While the Bavarians will decide his future, he has already stated that he will not return to the bench to watch Neuer. He does not want to be at the club as long as Neuer is the first-choice keeper.
He joins French international defender Lucas Hernandez on the sidelines. The player was also ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury in France’s 4-1 victory over Australia in the first match of their World Cup finals campaign.
Bayer leads the Bundesliga by four points heading into the winter break. It is set to resume on January 20 when Julain Nagelsmann’s men travel to Leipzig. The German powerhouse will also have to face Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 of the Champions League without its captain.
