Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany has revealed that a change in Jamal Musiala's medication was responsible for the midfielder's two collapses during pre-season friendlies — one against RB Leipzig and another against Heidenheim, just four days apart.

Musiala, 23, publicly disclosed earlier this week that he is receiving treatment for a "neurological dysfunction" that produces seizures he described as "temporary, brief, but easily treatable." Kompany confirmed the change in treatment caused side effects that led to those incidents, insisting the club had known about the condition for some time.

"I spoke with Jamal, he said, 'no problem, you can say it,'" Kompany told reporters ahead of Saturday's German Supercup clash against Borussia Dortmund. "He made a slight change to his treatment, which caused some side effects. It's perfectly normal to make changes to a treatment plan."

The Bayern boss added that the initial shock for the club came long before the public statement, and that decisions have since been made with the guidance of leading medical experts. "Jamal has everyone's support," he said.

Club knew before last season

Bayern confirmed that signs of Musiala's condition were present before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and that the club — including the playing squad — had been fully aware throughout last season. Sporting director Max Eberl said the situation has become part of daily life at 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," said Eberl. "We will give him all our support, have already done so, and will continue to do so. We're doing this together."

Kompany said Musiala will train individually for the rest of the week before Bayern begin their Bundesliga title defence against Stuttgart. The midfielder has been ruled out of the Supercup opener, alongside Lennard Maloney and Serge Gnabry.

What are absence seizures?

Following his collapse on Tuesday, Musiala posted a statement on Instagram, saying the seizures have become part of his everyday life. His condition is consistent with what neurologists call absence seizures — a type of generalised seizure that commonly affects children and young adults.

Dr Meneka Sidhu, a consultant neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London, explained that typical absence seizures usually last only seconds, during which the affected person may appear to stare blankly or daydream. In more atypical cases, episodes can involve involuntary movements such as hand fidgeting, eyelid fluttering, and lip smacking, and some individuals may fall.

Repeated episodes over more than 24 hours can indicate epilepsy, though the condition is treatable with medication. Dr Sidhu stressed that identifying triggers — which for athletes can include hyperventilation and dehydration — is key to effective management. "When effectively treated, there is no reason absence seizures should stop anyone playing sport," she said.

Musiala is not alone among elite athletes in managing such a condition. Rugby player Tommy Freeman began experiencing absence seizures at 14 and, after being diagnosed with epilepsy, now manages it through medication while continuing to play for Northampton and England.