BAYERN MUNICH sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said on Sunday he was “disappointed” with injured captain Manuel Neuer, who “put his personal interests above” the club.
The statement, which relates to Neuer’s tell-all interview with media outlets Sueddeutsche Zeitung and The Athletic, is the latest in the war of words between the club and its captain.
Neuer, who is currently out injured with a broken leg from a skiing accident in December, criticised the club’s decision to fire long-time goalkeeping coach Toni Tapalovic, saying he felt “as if my heart had been ripped out”.
Speaking with German tabloid Bild on Sunday, Salihamidzic said: “I understand Manuel is affected personally, but as captain I would have expected a different attitude from him.
“Manuel has put his personal interests above the interests of the club.
“We’ll discuss it with him sensibly internally.”
The off-field saga is mirrored by poor results on the field for the German champions, who are yet to win a league match in 2023.
Bayern, who sit in second place behind Union Berlin, travel to Wolfsburg on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in other significant European footballing news, Paris Saint-Germain’s football advisor Luis Campos says he will be “delighted” if Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi agrees to extend his contract with the French champions.
The 35-year-old seven-time Ballon D’Or winner achieved his lifetime ambition of winning the World Cup in December but has maintained a decent run of form on his return to France.
He scored a key goal in the 3-1 win over Montpellier and then notched his 10th Ligue 1 goal of the season on Saturday as PSG, missing Kylian Mbappe and Neymar through injury, came from behind to beat Toulouse 2-1.
Messi joined PSG in 2021 on a two year contract, with the option of renewing it for another, after an emotional farewell to Barcelona where he had spent his whole professional career.
“We are in discussions. I cannot hide that, I would love to have him involved in this project, that he can continue with us,” Campos told French broadcaster TF1.
“I would be delighted if he does so, but we are talking at the moment trying to achieve that goal, that Leo Messi remains with us.”
Campos lauded Messi’s recent contributions to the team especially in the win over Montpellier.
“At half-time I said to him ‘Leo it is imperative you drag the others with you’. He replied: ‘keep calm’ and he produced an exceptional second-half.”
Messi’s form is just the boost PSG require with Mbappe’s injury due to see him miss their Champions League Last 16 first leg clash with Bayern Munich on 14 February.
“Losing Kylian of course is tough, I saw he was very sad about the injury,” said Campos.
“However, then I then saw him working out in the morning so as to recuperate as fast as possible.
“That is the personality of a winner, of someone very special. He is already the best striker in the world.”
