Neuer to get over World Cup frustration in 'very likely' final season

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer aims to overcome World Cup disappointment at his club Bayern Munich in the upcoming season which he said will likely be the last of his career.

Neuer said he was not approaching matches as farewell appearances, although "it does look very likely that I will retire."

The 40-year-old Bayern captain is entering his 21st season as a professional.

The 2014 World Cup winner said he took his time before signing his latest contract extension.

"In perhaps 85% of cases, I would have stopped," Neuer at Bayern's pre-season training camp in the Bavarian town of Rottach-Egern which runs until Thursday.

"But with this team, the staff and the coaching team, it is simply a lot of fun. We always have the chance to compete for every title and this squad is right at the highest level."

Neuer said the team and the structure at Bayern represented "the 15%" that convinced him to carry on.

Neuer is expected to play a role in developing Jonas Urbig, 22, who has been lined up as his long-term successor and could receive more playing time this season.

"I think it will be similar to last season. We will support each other," Neuer said, also referring to third choice Sven Ulreich and Bayern's younger goalkeepers.

Neuer briefly came out of international retirement to play at the World Cup where Germany flopped again in the form of a round of 32 exit against Paraguay.

He hopes to overcome the World Cup frustration at Bayern, saying: "You are happy in a way that it is starting again, that you have new goals and can achieve a lot with the club. That is our goal now."

Bayern won a domestic Bundesliga and German Cup double last season and reached the Champions League semi-finals.

"I think we played a good season and that we have the players in the team that are capable of beating everyone and reaching all our goals," he said.

Neuer said he was "mega happy" with an all but unchanged squad and the new signings of Morocco midfielder Ismael Saibari and Germany full back Nathaniel Brown.

“We haven’t lost any players from the starting XI who you’d say are a real loss to us," Neuer said.

"I believe the new signings bring enough quality to help us move forward. We’re delighted to have completed these transfers and to welcome these players to the team.”

The training camp in Bavaria is followed by a week-long Asian trip before Bayern start the season with the German Super Cup match on August 22 against Borussia Dortmund. Their first Bundesliga match is six days later against VfB Stuttgart.