Bayern Munich will hand a huge £1.4million fine to goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer following his controversial interview over the sacking of former goalkeeper coach Toni Tapalovic, it has been claimed.
Neuer said that his "heart was ripped out" upon hearing the news that the coach, with whom he had worked closely alongside for over a decade, was leaving the Allianz Arena. Tapalovic was dismissed for allegedly leaking information from the Allianz Arena dressing room.
Tapalovic had worked at Bayern since 2011 and helped turn Neuer into one of the best goalkeepers of the modern game. But the 42-year-old was dramatically sacked last month after manager Julian Nagelsmann complained about his behaviour.
Neuer and Tapalovic were previously teammates at Bundesliga club Schalke, and such was the close bond developed between the two that Bayern's legendary captain even chose him to be best man at his wedding to Nina Weiss in 2017.
Neuer, now 36, has been out of action since the World Cup after breaking his leg on a skiing holiday, but he hasn't kept himself out of the headlines. The German shot-stopper criticised the decision to fire Tapalovic in an explosive interview.
"That blow hit me extremely hard," Neuer admitted, regarding Tapalovic's sacking. "I was told by the club officials. It came out of nowhere. For Toni too. I didn't understand that at all. It really knocked me down."
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Neuer continued, when speaking of his relationship with the goalkeeping coach: "Toni was always a team player with us, everyone saw it that way.
"He wasn't working for me for 11-and-a-half years, but for the entire goalkeeper group, for the coaching staff and for the club. We were always able to separate work and private life. I understand that it might sound like I'm not being objective or not believable, but I can really tell the difference.
"For me, that was a blow — when I was already down on the ground (having broken his leg). I felt like my heart was being ripped out. It was the most brutal thing I've experienced in my career. And I've experienced a lot."
A report in Bild has outlined how Neuer is now liable to a £1.4million fine, which is proportionate to his salary at the club and falls under the bracket of "intentional" and "negligent" offences.
Bayern CEO and former goalkeeper Oliver Kahn told the German Press Agency : “What Manuel said in parts of these two interviews in connection with Toni Tapalovic's release does neither do justice to him as captain nor to the values of FC Bayern. In addition, his statements are untimely because we are facing very important games.”
Boss Nagelsmann agreed, stating: “I wouldn't have given the interview. We have important weeks ahead. It doesn't help calm things down. Oliver Kahn made a very, very good statement. Some time ago I had a good conversation with Manuel in private, where we discussed many things.”
The club’s president Herbert Hainer told an interview with Marca : “For the club it is incomprehensible and disappointing that Manuel Neuer did not seek direct communication with us, but instead turned to the press. I'm more disappointed than angry because I thought that Manuel, who is a great player and who has been here a long time, would discuss those issues with us first.”
Bayern icon Lothar Matthaus wrote in his column for Sky Sports Germany : “Manuel Neuer is no longer acceptable as Bayern captain!”
The 10-time Bundesliga -winning goalkeeper has a contract with Bayern which expires in less than 18 months' time. Bayern signed goalkeeper Yann Sommer in January, after paying Borussia Monchengladbach a fee worth £8.3million.
