Bayern Munich announced in an official statement the nature of Manuel Neuer’s injury, sustained during the Bavarian giants’ 3-0 victory over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
The 40-year-old was unable to complete the match and left the field injured at halftime, replaced by promising young goalkeeper Jonas Urbig, who appears poised to become Bayern’s first-choice keeper for the foreseeable future.
Neuer suffered a muscle fiber tear and will require at least three weeks to a month to recover and return to guard the net for the German giants.
Neuer is expected to miss a crucial period for Bayern domestically, as Vincent Kompany’s squad prepares for four challenging matches in the coming weeks against Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Bayer Leverkusen, respectively.
The injury also means Neuer will most likely miss both legs of the Champions League round of 16 tie, marking his third injury this season.
The 22-year-old Urbig, who joined Bayern Munich last year from Cologne, will be Bayern’s goalkeeper during that period, having made only eight appearances this season.
