Manuel Neuer has hit out at Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma after a collision with Jamal Musiala left the Bayern Munich star with a serious injury.
The sickening incident happened during the Club World Cup quarter-final clash between the French and German giants.
Musiala was challenging PSG defender Willian Pacho when Donnarumma dived to grab the ball in the penalty area.
There was an awkward collision and Musiala was left in agony after his leg was caught under the Italian’s body, with his ankle horribly bent out of shape.
German publication BILD have since reported that he will be out for 4-5 months due to a broken left fibula and damage to several ligaments.
Donnarumma was visibly distraught by the situation, in tears after the incident, but Neuer has pointed the finger at his opposite number.
The Bayern and Germany legend said: ‘It was a situation where you don’t have to go in like that. That’s risk-taking. He was prepared to accept the risk of injuring his opponent.’
In a further rebuke of his fellow goalkeeper, Neuer claimed that Donnarumma had not expressed much sympathy for his stricken opponent.
‘I went to him and said, “Don’t you want to go and see our player?” It’s a matter of respect, of going there and wishing the guy all the best,’ said the German.
‘He then did it. Fair play is always a part of it. I would have reacted differently.’
Donnarumma was obviously upset by the incident on the field and did send a message to Musiala on social media after the match.
He wrote on Instagram: ‘All my prayers and well wishes are with you @jamalmusiala10 🙏🏽.’
Bayern manager Vincent Kompany said his blood was boiling over the incident, but did not blame Donnarumma, he was just upset for his player who has only just returned from another injury.
‘For these guys, it’s their life,’ said Kompany. ‘Someone like Jamal lives for this, and he came back from a setback, and then it happens in the way it happens and you feel powerless.
‘But the idea for the group and for us is always to gain strength out of it.
‘So you try and get strength out of it because you want to do it for Jamal, but of course it’s… when I’m sat here next to you now… the thing that gets my blood still boiling at the moment, it’s not the result.
‘I understand this is football but it’s the fact that it happened to someone that enjoys the game so much, but he’s also very important for us.’
PSG won the game 2-0 with goals from Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele, booking a place in the Club World Cup semi-finals where they will face Real Madrid.
