When FC Bayern Munich presented one of their additions for the coming season three weeks ago, everything seemed to fit. “Servus, it’s me, there Rapha,” said Raphael Guerreiro in a cracked leather in a video. The Portuguese, who grew up in France, was welcomed with a snack and a non-alcoholic wheat beer. But a few days after the left-back made his debut in a friendly at Tegernsee, the euphoria of the beginning was mixed with meanness from everyday life.
A muscle bundle tear suffered during training prevents Guerreiro from further integration, and there is talk of a break of up to six weeks. The 29-year-old will not only miss the club’s upcoming trip to Asia, but also the first Bundesliga games against Werder Bremen, FC Augsburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Guerreiro is said to be putting pressure on Alphonso Davies at Bayern Munich – but now he’s injured
Guerreiro, whom coach Thomas Tuchel has planned as a “desired player” and a competitor for Alphonso Davies on the flank, is one of three Bavarian professionals who will not be flying to Tokyo this Monday: In addition to the ex-Dortmunder, Thomas Müller (“certain hip problems”, as club boss Jan-Christian Dreesen recently said) and Manuel Neuer, who is still trying to become Manuel Neuer again after breaking his leg, are also missing.
The goalkeeper should gradually return to team training after Munich’s Asia tour (until August 3rd), but his recovery is also dragging on. It is still unclear with which number one Bayern start the season. Recently there have even been rumors that Seville’s Moroccan national goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, known as “Bono”, 32, would be an option as a replacement. He might also be considered as a long-term new representative, because with Alexander Nübel (to VfB Stuttgart) and Yann Sommer (to Inter Milan?), two other goalkeepers are about to say goodbye.
In the meantime, the intention of the Munich team on their Asian tour is clear: they want to show themselves to the fans in the Far East so that everyone there can find out what goes on a Bavarian snack board. In PR language, of course, that sounds different: Bayern are playing a total of three friendlies as part of two “Audi Football Summits”.
In Japan’s national stadium, Munich will meet Manchester City on Wednesday (12.30 p.m.) and Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday (12 p.m.). Finally, on August 2nd (1.30 p.m.) there is a duel with FC Liverpool; the Premier League club, coached by Jürgen Klopp, is also on a PR trip.