According to Bild, Neuer may retire after the season. If he continues working in football, he is more likely to stay at Bayern Munich than return to Schalke 04.

Schalke 04 supervisory board chairman Axel Hefer opened the door to Neuer in an interview with Bild: "His departure was controversial, but I personally believe that everyone makes mistakes, especially when they are young. There always comes a time to move on. He will enjoy some time off first, then think about what he wants to do. As for whether he wants to work in his old hometown or new hometown, that's for him to decide."

Schalke 04 sporting director Frank Baumann, when asked about the prospect of offering Neuer a job, said: "Overall, I think it's very interesting to bring qualified and passionate former players into the club. So my answer is 'yes'—but I also know that finding a solution is not easy."

When Bild approached Neuer's team about this, they cited Neuer's recent statements. In an interview with DAZN, Neuer said: "For me, this club should be in the Bundesliga. When Schalke 04 was in the 2. Bundesliga, I was a Schalke 04 fan; when Schalke 04 played Dortmund, I was their biggest fan."

After 15 years at Bayern Munich, Neuer was asked whether he now felt more like a Southern German or still a Ruhr area native. He replied: "I grew up in Gelsenkirchen, and my family is from there. I am a Gelsenkirchener, I am a Schalke 04 person! But I also appreciate Bavarian comfort."

When asked if he might return to Schalke 04, Neuer said his affection for his hometown club was not a barrier: "I feel very comfortable living in Tegernsee and Munich. Similarly, I feel very comfortable in my hometown of Gelsenkirchen. My friends are still there. So I can't say now which place suits me better. Of course, we now live in Bavaria, and it has become a second home. We enjoy the tranquility, nature, and everything around here. But where you come from is always where you come from, and I know where I grew up."

Negotiations between Neuer and Schalke 04 are unlikely to face obstacles. However, Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer has also stated that he hopes to keep Neuer at the club in some capacity. The question remains: is Neuer truly willing? At Schalke 04, he is still held responsible for his controversial departure; at Bayern Munich, he can continue working at the highest level.

Bild's assessment: If Neuer wants to continue working in football, the possibility of him staying in Munich may be higher than returning to Schalke 04. But who knows? Perhaps Neuer still wants to write a perfect ending to his personal story at the club he loves so deeply.

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com