Manuel Neuer's Bayern Munich contract extension happening

His contract, set to expire soon, has been the subject of much speculation.

Bayern Munich have been linked with a new deal for Neuer, who joined from Schalke 04 in 2011. After securing a 1-0 victory against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga on Saturday, Neuer hinted at an imminent announcement. "There's nothing official yet, that's for sure. But when the time comes, you'll know. I would just say: soon," he told Sport1 after the match.

The match itself was decided by a controversial penalty. Harry Kane converted a spot-kick awarded after Michael Olise went down under a challenge from Lukas Ullrich.

However, the call was not without dispute.

Borussia Monchengladbach's managing director for sport, Roland Virkus, expressed his frustration over the penalty decision. "It's really a shame. For me, it's a 50-50 story," Virkus said post-match, as reported by Kicker.

He emphasized that his comments were not about the result but about the quality of refereeing. "He (Olise) accepted it gratefully. And the contact wasn't such that it needed to be whistled. And if it's not whistled, the VAR won't intervene," he added.

Echoing Virkus's sentiments, Gladbach striker Tim Kleindienst criticized the penalty call, suggesting it was too lenient. "If you call that a penalty, then there are 24 in every game. After all, it's a contact sport," he remarked to Sky Germany.

Kleindienst also pointed out a similar incident at the other end where he was involved, suggesting that consistency in refereeing decisions was lacking.

The conversation around the match, while dominated by the penalty, also highlighted Bayern's performance on the pitch. Despite the controversy, Virkus acknowledged that "Bayern deserved to win," focusing on the broader aspects of the game beyond the single contentious moment.

This match and the subsequent discussions illustrate the high stakes and fine margins in top-tier football, where every decision can dramatically sway the outcome of games and seasons. 

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