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Bayern Munich have been hit with a major setback as their captain and star goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been ruled out until the international break.
The injury occurred during a 3-0 thrashing of rivals Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg, a night that was otherwise a triumph for the Bavarians.
Neuer had to leave the pitch after injuring himself while celebrating Jamal Musiala's goal, which doubled Bayern's lead.
The club confirmed that Neuer has suffered a muscle strain in his right calf.
The 38-year-old shot-stopper will miss several key fixtures, including the return leg against Leverkusen and Bundesliga clashes with Bochum, Union Berlin, and St. Pauli. "It's a tough loss for us," Bayern's head coach said, highlighting Neuer's leadership and world-class ability between the posts.
Stepping into the spotlight is 21-year-old Jonas Urbig, who replaced Neuer during the Leverkusen win. Urbig, who joined Bayern in January, has been tipped as a long-term heir to the legendary keeper. "He's a huge talent with a bright future," Neuer himself has said of the youngster in recent weeks, a comment that now carries extra weight.
Urbig's performance in the coming matches could define Bayern's season as they chase silverware on multiple fronts.
Meanwhile, whispers from Munich suggest Bayern are already planning for the summer transfer window. Reports from Spanish outlet Fichajes indicate the Bavarians have set their sights on Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert.
The 25-year-old Dutch winger has finally hit his stride in the Premier League, bagging 12 goals and five assists in 26 appearances this season. After rocky spells at Ajax, AS Roma, RB Leipzig, OGC Nice, and Valencia, Kluivert's resurgence has caught Bayern's eye.
Fichajes claims Bournemouth would consider offers around 50 million euros for Kluivert, whose contract runs until 2028. However, any move could depend on the futures of Bayern's current wingers, Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry, and Kingsley Coman, whose roles remain under scrutiny at Sabener Strasse.
Adding to the story, a recent X post from Bayern Munich's official account praised Urbig's composure in his cameo against Leverkusen, stating, "Jonas stepped up when we needed him, proud of the lad."
As Bayern march on, all eyes will be on the young keeper, and the club's next moves.
