Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala’s recent collapses in pre-season games were caused by side effects from an adjustment to his medication, manager Vincent Kompany has revealed.
The 23-year-old Germany international collapsed during Bayern’s friendly matches against RB Leipzig and Heidenheim, which were played within four days of each other.
Musiala recently disclosed that he is receiving treatment for a neurological condition that causes brief, temporary seizures.
Speaking ahead of Bayern’s German Supercup meeting with Borussia Dortmund, Kompany explained that Musiala’s treatment had been slightly modified, resulting in the side effects.
“I spoke with Jamal, he said, ‘no problem, you can say it’,” Kompany said.
“He made a slight change to his treatment, which caused some side effects. It’s perfectly normal to make changes to a treatment plan.”
Kompany added that Bayern had been aware of Musiala’s condition for some time and had consulted leading medical specialists in managing it.
“The initial shock for us was a long time ago. Therefore, we’re not talking about it that much at the moment,” he said.
“We’ve received much more information since then and made decisions with the help of leading experts. Jamal has everyone’s support.”
Bayern sporting director Max Eberl also confirmed that the club had known about Musiala’s condition throughout the previous season and that he continued to have the support of his teammates and the club.
“We’ve known about it the entire last season. The players also knew about it. For us, it’s become part of everyday life,” Eberl said.
“We will give him all our support, have already done so, and will continue to do so. We’re doing this together.”
Musiala will miss the German Supercup against Borussia Dortmund, with Kompany confirming that he would train individually while Bayern works to restore his treatment to its previous arrangement.
Medical experts say absence seizures can result in a brief loss of awareness and, in some cases, loss of balance. Consultant neurologist Dr Meneka Sidhu said affected individuals may briefly stare blankly or become unresponsive.
She also advised athletes to be aware of possible triggers, including dehydration and hyperventilation.
“When effectively treated, there is no reason absence seizures should stop anyone playing sport,” Sidhu said.
Musiala has established himself as a key player for Bayern, recording 69 goals and 37 assists for the club. The German giants will be hoping he can make a safe return as they prepare to begin their Bundesliga title defence.
