The 40-year-old has been advised to consider ending his career by former Germany and Bayern goalkeeper Sepp Maier, who believes the time has come for the veteran to step away from football. Neuer, however, is not currently considering an early retirement.
Speaking to Sport1, Maier offered his view on the Bayern captain's future.
“Now it's over. But the decision has to be his own,” the goalkeeping legend said, while advising Neuer to bring his playing career to an end.
According to Sky, Neuer has no intention of acting on that advice despite his latest injury setback. The Bayern Munich goalkeeper remains determined to continue playing, with his immediate focus on recovering and returning to action.
Neuer suffered a partial tendon tear in his right foot during Bayern's recent match against Mainz. The injury forced him off during the first half and is expected to keep him out until Christmas.
Bayern have not confirmed an exact return date, but Bild reports that the club expect him to be available again in January. The intention is for Neuer to resume his position as the team's undisputed first-choice goalkeeper once he has recovered.
The situation has nevertheless increased speculation about his longer-term future. Neuer's contract expires next summer, and Sky considers a retirement at the end of the current season almost certain.
The goalkeeper has not publicly confirmed that decision, but the expectation is that the 2026-27 campaign could be his last as a professional.
Bayern have already identified a potential successor in Jonas Urbig. The 23-year-old has been given opportunities to deputise for Neuer and is viewed as a long-term option between the posts.
The club's hierarchy are also expected to hold discussions about the goalkeeper position beyond the first-choice role. Oliver Baumann, Bernd Leno and Loris Karius have all been mentioned as possible candidates for the reserve position.
For now, however, Bayern's immediate priority is managing Neuer's recovery. His return in January would give the club an opportunity to assess his fitness and performances before making decisions about the final months of his contract.
The latest injury has inevitably intensified questions about whether the veteran can continue at the highest level, particularly given his age and recent physical problems. But Neuer's reported position remains clear: he is not planning to retire before the end of the season.