Uli Hoeness has continued the charm offensive towards Manuel Neuer by claiming the Bayern Munich captain “is still the best goalkeeper in the world”.
Neuer admitted last weekend that he was “irritated” by how publicly contract negotiations between him and the club were playing out.
The Germany international said this compared starkly with how his dealings with the Bavarians had been done in the past.
Bayern have reacted to the netminder’s annoyance by reassuring him that no such offence was meant.
Sporting Director Hasan Salihamidžić said that the matter had been “clarified internally”, while head coach Hansi Flick insisted that “Manuel Neuer is clearly our number one and nothing will change in the coming season”.
Now former club president Hoeness has had his say on the matter.
“I would very much appreciate it and would be happy if Manuel Neuer would stay at Bayern for the next few years because he is still the best goalkeeper in the world,” the 68-year-old told Kicker.
No doubt some of Neuer’s discomfort is related to the decision of Bayern to acquire Schalke’s Alexander Nübel on a free contract.
The 23-year-old will seemingly come in as Neuer’s understudy next season, a move which Hoeness described as a “brilliant act”.