Bayern Munich star Manuel Neuer ripped into Gianluigi Donnarumma and held him accountable for causing Jamal Musiala’s horror injury in their 2-0 Club World Cup defeat by PSG.
Luis Enrique’s side booked their spot in the final four of the competition thanks to goals from Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele in what was a incident-ridden affair in Atlanta, Georgia.
The French side were reduced to nine men late on, with Willian Pancho and Lucas Hernandez sent off in the 82nd and 92nd minute respectively. Yet, the biggest talking point of the match came when Musiala was involved in a sickening collision with PSG goalkeeper Donnarumma.
The German forward was chasing a ball when they had a coming together, which resulted in a horror lower leg injury. It is believed to be a fractured tibia and fibula, with Musiala expected to be out for four to five months, according to Sky Sports Germany.
Footage of the incident showed the Bayern star’s ankle get trapped in between the Italian shot-stopper’s body and arms as he went for the ball.
The momentum of both players then carried them in opposite directions, with the forward’s ankle bearing the brunt of the collision, twisting at a sickening angle as a result.
WARNING: CLIP CONTAINS GRAPHIC CONTENT
Manuel Neuer blamed PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma for injuring Jamal Musiala
Musiala is believed to have fractured his tibia and fibula in PSG’s 2-0 Club World Cup win over Bayern Munich after a collision with Donnarumma
Donnarumma dropped to his knees and cried after the freak accident that resulted in the injury
It was a freak accident, with Donnarumma left in clear discomfort after realising what had happened.
The PSG goalkeeper dropped to his knees and was left in tears with his head in his hands as Bayern players swarmed to their team-mate’s assistance.
Nevertheless, Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was not in a forgiving mood after the game, and pointed the finger at Donnarumma.
He told Sky Sports Germany: ‘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.’
Neuer then revealed that Donnarumma only checked in on Musiala because he was prompted to.
The German shot-stopper continued: ‘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.
‘He then did it. Fair play is always a part of it. I would have reacted differently.’
After the game, Donnarumma showed even more remorse, taking to Instagram to write: ‘All my prayers and well wishes are with you @jamalmusiala10.’
Musiala was quickly taken off the field on a stretcher before being taken towards an ambulance
Bayern and PSG players could hardly look on and then turned away from the incident in agony
Fans on X extended their sympathies to Musiala and wished the 22-year-old a quick recovery
Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Kingsley Coman and Joshua Kimmich could hardly look and then turned away in agony.
Bayern and PSG players were quick to console Donnarumma, reassuring him that he need not feel guilty over the incident.
Musiala was quickly attended to by medics who treated the incident on the field and soon had him on a stretcher to be taken off the pitch.
He was then pictured on the stretcher making for an ambulance which was waiting at the stadium.
The incident was so unsettling that DAZN’s TV broadcast cut away from the scene to spare fans the horror of witnessing it.
Musiala was subsequently replaced at half-time by Serge Gnabry.
Currently recovering from his own injury – an ACL rupture – Bayern left back Alphonso Davies reacted to the incident on a live stream.
Witnessing the gruesome scenes, he repeatedly exclaimed; ‘Oh my God, no, no, no’ with his hands on his head.
Musiala was stretchered off the pitch and replaced by Serge Gnabry for the second half
Donnarumma was visibly feeling guilty and it seemed as if the collision was entirely accidental
Bayern boss Vincent Kompany said of the injury: ‘It was emotional. Of course it didn’t look good. I hope it’s not too bad, but it didn’t look good. I hope he’ll have the best possible recovery.’
A statement from Bayern read: ‘Jamal Musiala has to be carried off the field injured. We’re with you, Jamal!’
Fans on social media extended their sympathies towards the 22-year-old midfielder.
One wrote on X: ‘Absolutely horrific injury. Can’t even blame Donnarumma, it’s just a freak injury. Speedy recovery to Jamal.’
Another commented: ‘Awful, awful injury. I wish Musiala a speedy recovery.’
A third wrote: ‘No player deserves such reality. Damn!! Really unfortunate.’
