When Alexander Nübel made the move from Schalke 04 to Bayern Munich in 2020, the assumption was that he would soon take over for the aging Manuel Neuer.
It’s now four years on, and it’s safe to say that things haven’t quite gone to plan for the goalkeeper. Neuer is 38-years-old and still at the top of his game, and Nübel has been sent out on multiple loan spells, first to AS Monaco in Ligue 1, and then to fellow Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart where the player will remain until the end of the 2025/26 season.
In a recent interview with the German news outlet t-online (via @iMiaSanMia), Nübel shared his thoughts about his move to Münich back in 2020.
“It wasn’t a mistake. People may say it was a lost year and I had no business being there. But being able to train at that level helped me progress. It doesn’t matter which Bundesliga team you move from to FC Bayern as a goalkeeper, you definitely make a leap forward. I needed time to adjust. But this time also made me the goalkeeper I am today,” Nübel said.
When asked if he expected to play more minutes at Bayern, Nübel said he had hope.
“Yes, there was hope. But I also knew that Manuel Neuer was my competitor and that I had to take a back seat. I wanted to learn and take everything I could from Manu. Here, with the national team too, I learn from him every day,” Nübel remarked.
Given that he hasn’t quite been good enough but has been kept around for so long nonetheless, Nübel’s transfer to Bayern stands to be one of the club’s strangest signings in recent memory.