FC Bayern Munich begin pre-season with medical tests, only six players attend

Munich – The double winners are back in action. Just 58 days after their DFB-Pokal final triumph and one day after the World Cup final, FC Bayern began preparations for the new season on Monday morning. The campaign started with performance tests at the Barmherzige Brüder hospital in Munich's Nymphenburg district – with only six players in attendance. BILD presents exclusive photos.

Reserve goalkeeper Sven Ulreich (37) was the first player to arrive at the clinic's underground garage at 7:43 a.m. The experienced keeper, who recently extended his contract alongside captain Manuel Neuer (40) – heading into his 21st Bundesliga season – until summer 2027, arrived before the equipment managers. Under team internist Prof. Dr. Roland Schmidt, players were examined in pairs from 8 a.m., undergoing tests including lung function and stress ECG.

Here the Kompany Bayern Start Again

Bayern keeper Sven Ulreich (37) arrived at the Barmherzige Brüder clinic's underground garage on Monday at 7:43 a.m. Photo: Verhoff

Ulreich's test partner arrived at 7:54 a.m.: Arijon Ibrahimovic (20). The offensive all-rounder has returned from his loan at Heidenheim and is firmly planned for the upcoming season under coach Vincent Kompany (40).

Loan returnee Arijon Ibrahimovic (20) received his underground garage ticket from the attendant. Photo: Robert Gongoll

Also Karl and Gnabry at the Performance Tests

With all FC Bayern World Cup participants still on vacation, few professionals appeared for the performance tests. Alongside Ulreich and Ibrahimovic, Tom Bischof (21) arrived at 8:35 a.m. with his buddy Lennart Karl (18, 8:31 a.m.). Karl is currently in rehabilitation training after suffering a muscle bundle tear in his left front thigh during World Cup preparation six weeks ago.

Serge Gnabry (31) arrived with a fresh hairstyle for the performance tests. Photo: Robert Gongoll

Karl's rehab colleague Serge Gnabry (31) – recovering from an adductor tear in his right thigh 13 weeks ago – also came for the clinic checks on Monday at 9:24 a.m. The offensive star arrived in his black Audi RS6 with a fresh dreadlocks hairstyle, having missed the World Cup. His examination partner arrived ten minutes earlier: young professional David Santos Daiber (19), rehabbing after a muscle tendon tear in his left thigh.

Young professional David Santos Daiber (19) driving in for performance diagnostics. Photo: Robert Gongoll

Three Loan Returnees Back at Bayern

Additionally, three loan returnees were required to report in Munich – players the club would have preferred to sell already: João Palhinha (31, most recently Tottenham), Sacha Boey (25, most recently Galatasaray Istanbul), and Bryan Zaragoza (24, most recently AS Roma). Surprisingly, the trio did not appear for the morning performance tests at the Barmherzige Brüder.

However, Palhinha later showed up at 1:03 p.m. at Säbener Straße. The Portuguese international's return comes after Tottenham did not exercise their purchase option for around €30 million, and he still has no new club. Currently, Benfica Lisbon and Aston Villa are interested. Four minutes later, Zaragoza was driven to the Bayern grounds in a car. Armindo Sieb (23, loaned to Mainz) also arrived in his light blue Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

João Palhinha (31) greeted Bayern employees and player caretaker Sonny Scherer (r.).