Jamal Musiala to rejoin Bayern group training this week but will miss Bundesliga opener
Jamal Musiala is scheduled to return to group practice this week at Bayern Munich but will not be part of the squad for the Bundesliga opener against VfB Stuttgart on August 28. He completed an individual training session at Säbener Straße as part of a phased reintegration into team training.
Musiala, 23, has been working closely with Bayern’s medical staff and head coach Vincent Kompany to adjust and manage his medication following two fainting episodes in friendly matches. He sat out the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup defeat to Borussia Dortmund (2-1) and was withdrawn from full training while the medication change was implemented. Max Eberl, a Bayern board member for sport, verified the situation and emphasised that the club and Musiala’s teammates had been aware of the condition.
Dr Regina Becker of the Neurozentrum München Schwabing explained the medical background to SPOX, saying: “Absence epilepsy originates in the so-called thalamus, the diencephalon, which controls consciousness. If there is a dysfunction here, a person can suddenly become unresponsive out of the blue.” She added: “The brain enters an exceptional state, the neurons fire uncontrollably and communication between the thalamus and the so-called cerebral cortex, where we consciously perceive things, is interrupted. The patient no longer perceives their own surroundings, stares into space or – as in Musiala’s case – even falls over. To outsiders, the patient often appears frozen.”
Bayern temporarily removed Musiala from team practice to allow the medication adjustment to proceed without further incidents. Kompany said: “It is only about him making the adaptation without pressure, without us doing anything additional. That’s the only reason.” He also announced: “We know how we have to deal with it. He will train individually this week.”
The club has described Musiala’s condition as absence seizures rather than a traditional injury; he remains under medical supervision while he recovers. The episodes occurred during friendlies against RB Leipzig and Heidenheim, after which Musiala disclosed that he suffers from absence seizures.
According to kicker, Musiala will be absent from the start of the Bundesliga next Friday evening, and Bild reports a possible comeback as early as Matchday 2 against FC Schalke 04. Media reports indicate the club is planning a step-by-step return to group training following his individual sessions.
Musiala will not be included in Bayern’s squad to face VfB Stuttgart on August 28, and, per Bild, a return to competitive action could come as soon as Matchday 2 versus FC Schalke 04 if the medication adjustment remains stable.