Bayern Munich forward Jamal Musiala is undergoing treatment for a "neurological dysfunction" after collapsing twice during the team's recent pre-season friendlies.
The latest health issues mark another significant setback for the 21-year-old, whose career has been punctuated by a series of injuries and unfortunate events over the past 18 months. Musiala's 2024-25 campaign was prematurely ended in early April due to an injury, followed by involvement in a serious traffic accident just over a week later.
Despite returning to play for the FIFA Club World Cup approximately two months after the accident, Musiala then suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle in a quarter-final match against Paris Saint-Germain. This injury sidelined him for 196 days.
He played with a metal plate in his foot from January until the conclusion of this summer's World Cup, where he made four appearances for Germany. The plate was removed in July, which limited his ability to train during the team's pre-season preparations.
German football expert Constantin Eckner noted that Musiala had not been a consistent factor for Bayern in the last year and a half. "He just had a metal plate removed from his left foot so he played with that for half a year and had to deal with ankle issues," Eckner said. "Naturally, his performances left much to be desired."
Eckner added that the start to the upcoming season would have been challenging for Musiala regardless, due to the time missed during team training for the surgery to remove the plate. The recent collapses present a further obstacle.
According to Eckner, Bayern's acquisition of Moroccan attacking midfielder Ismael Saibari for £43 million in the summer was partly a measure to account for Musiala's fitness concerns. While Musiala is reportedly Bayern's top earner alongside Harry Kane, his on-field contributions have not matched Kane's, Eckner observed.
Despite these persistent issues, Musiala is still young, and the situation could change. He has a contract release clause that could be activated next summer, but the fee, reported to be in the nine figures, is considered unrealistic for any club to meet given his current fitness record.
