German champions, Bayern Munich have completed the signing of 23-year-old keeper Alexander Nubel from Schalke on a free transfer. The youngster, who is tipped as the long-term successor to Manuel Neuer for both club and country, will join the Bavarians at the end of the season on a five-year contract.
The signing, in one way or the other, leaves a big question-mark over the role of Manuel Neuer once the youngster dons the Bayern jersey starting next season. At 33, the German international still has a lot of years left in him and is clearly not willing to give up his place in the team.
ℹ️ #FCBayern have signed Alexander Nübel for the 2020/21 season. pic.twitter.com/JeqJ8jA86q
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) January 4, 2020
As far as Nubel is concerned, the keeper has been on the rise since making his debut as a 19-year-old. And while the initial years were marred with struggles and lack of game-time, the 2018-19 season proved to be the breakthrough campaign. His then manager, Domenico Tedesco instilled him between the sticks and the current manager, David Wagner made him Schalke’s captain at the start of the current season.
By December 2019, Schalke confirmed that the youngster will not be signing a new deal. As of now, Nubel is out serving a four-game ban for putting in a terrible tackle on midfielder Mijat Gacinovic.
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It is being said that both Neuer and Nubel will rotate between the posts to make sure the latter gets enough opportunities for progression. But it remains to be seen how Bayern handles the situation. Germany’s No. 1 shirt has already seen its fair share of controversies when Uli Hoeness sent out a warning that Bayern would stop sending their players for international duties if Neuer is replaced by Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the national set-up.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich are looking to offload long-time servant and World Cup winner, Jerome Boateng in the January transfer window as the likes of Juventus and Arsenal seem interested in acquiring his services.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Ina Fassbender
