"He's getting used to the increase in medication and he's responding well to it." That's Vincent Kompany's update on Jamal Musiala, and right now, it's the only update that matters to Bayern Munich.
Musiala collapsed during back-to-back preseason fixtures — first against RB Leipzig on August 15, then again just 72 hours later when he came on as a substitute against Heidenheim. Teammates formed a protective circle around him on that second occasion while medical staff attended to him on the pitch. That image said everything about the seriousness of what was unfolding.
What Musiala has revealed about his condition
To his credit, the 23-year-old got ahead of the speculation himself. In a detailed Instagram post, he disclosed that he'd been diagnosed with "brief, temporary but readily treatable absences, which are caused by a neurological dysfunction." He was clear that there's no further health risk beyond the condition itself, and that continuing to play football — with specialist approval — is actually part of his recovery.
"I have a very good feeling and I'm on the right track," he wrote. That kind of composure from a 23-year-old dealing with a neurological diagnosis in the full glare of public scrutiny is notable in itself.
Kompany confirmed Musiala has returned to training and will be reintegrated into the squad when the medical team signs off — no earlier. "He'll be back in the squad at some point and he'll play normally again. But of course we'll make that decision hand in hand with all the experts."
What his absence means for Bayern's season opener
Bayern host VfB Stuttgart on Friday for their Bundesliga opener, and Musiala won't be in the squad. That's a significant absence for a player who, in a healthy season, is arguably the most dangerous attacker in Germany. His ability to carry the ball in tight spaces and create chances from nothing is the kind of thing that doesn't get replaced by a tactical tweak.
For anyone assessing Bayern's early-season attacking output — and the odds that come with it — Musiala's timeline matters. Kompany hasn't put a date on his return, and given the nature of the condition, that caution is entirely appropriate. The club isn't guessing. They're waiting for the experts.
He's training. He's responding to medication. That's where it stands.
