Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala collapsed on the field in two consecutive friendly matches this month, and his coach now says a change in medication was to blame.
Musiala, 23, first went down during a friendly against Leipzig last weekend, then again six minutes after coming off the bench in Bayern's 4-2 win at Heidenheim on Tuesday. Players from both teams gathered around him as he received medical treatment before he was helped off the pitch.
After the second collapse, Musiala posted a message on his Instagram account explaining that he had been diagnosed with temporary "but easily treatable absence seizures" caused by a neurological problem.
Speaking ahead of Bayern's German Supercup match against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, coach Vincent Kompany addressed the situation directly at a news conference on Friday. According to Al Jazeera, Kompany said he had spoken with the player before making details public.
"I spoke with Jamal, he said, 'No problem, you can say it'," Kompany told reporters. "With his treatment, he changed some things and that had some side effects. That is normal that during treatment you try something else."
Bayern's sporting director Max Eberl said the club had known about Musiala's condition throughout last season and that the players were also aware of it. "We've known about it the entire last season," Eberl said. "The players also knew about it. For us, it's become part of everyday life. He changed something in his medication, which is why these situations became clear. We will give him all our support, have already done so, and will continue to do so. We're doing this together."
Musiala will not feature in Saturday's Supercup squad. Kompany said the time away would allow the player to adjust now that his condition has been made public. Musiala had wanted that information released, according to Eberl.
The German international has been working his way back after a serious injury in July 2025 sidelined him for six months. Kompany expressed confidence in the player's trajectory. "I am completely calm," he said. "I now expect the counterattack from Jamal. I have the feeling that he now has all the means to deliver these answers. For me, as a coach, I know he has taken a huge step forward."
