Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness has cast serious doubt over whether forward Jamal Musiala will ever fully return to his former brilliance, warning that the 23-year-old may never "regain the performance level he once had."

Musiala collapsed on two occasions within a four-day spell during pre-season, and Bayern subsequently confirmed he had been diagnosed with a treatable "neurological dysfunction" — a condition that, according to Hoeness, cannot be fully cured but can be managed through medication.

"We are facing a dilemma in this case, as he is suffering from an illness that cannot simply be cured, but it can be controlled to a certain extent with the use of medication," Hoeness told Bavarian network BR24.

Despite the concerns, Bayern have stood firmly behind their player, who remains under contract at the club until 2030. So far this season, Musiala has contributed two goals in four appearances across all competitions — a modest return by his own exceptional standards.

Matthaus sees method in Hoeness's words

Former Bayern Munich and Germany captain Lothar Matthaus offered a different reading of Hoeness's remarks, suggesting they were a deliberate attempt to stoke Musiala's competitive fire rather than a cold assessment of his future.

"He's needling him a little. It's not just about wrapping him in cotton wool. He also has to battle against adversity sometimes," Matthaus told Sky90.

"Uli was looking to create that adversity with this statement. It's fine for him to say something like that, because we can't just put a positive spin on things and somehow wait for him to come back."

Matthaus went further, arguing that such a provocation could serve as the ideal catalyst for Musiala's comeback: "If I were in Jamal Musiala's position, that would be motivation enough to show Uli I'm back."

A career of remarkable achievement

Musiala joined Bayern Munich in 2019 after progressing through Chelsea's academy, and his rise since has been extraordinary. The German international has amassed 71 goals and 38 assists in 235 matches for the Bavarian club — having broken into the first team as a 17-year-old.

One of the youngest players ever to represent Germany, Musiala shared the Golden Boot as joint top scorer at Euro 2024. He has not featured for Bayern since sustaining a hamstring injury in September, though he has recently returned to training, raising cautious hopes of an imminent comeback.