Rene Adler makes comeback from Bayer 04 II

Goalkeeper Rene Adler made his comeback for Bayer 04 Leverkusen II in a Regionalliga West (fourth division) match against VfL Bochum II on Wednesday evening after not having played for nearly a year. The former German number one has been struck with numerous injuries over the last few seasons which have not only cost him his place in the Germany goal but also at his club Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

Wednesday's match was Adler's first competitive game after exactly 309 days following a knee surgery and prolonged rehabilitation. With teenager Bernd Leno doing a great job in the Bayer 04 Leverkusen goal Adler currently only has ambitions to make it to the bench, maybe making it as the Bayer 04 number two over the weekend.

Further Adler's future at the moment is not sorted then his contract with Bayer 04 Leverkusen ends on June 30 and thereafter a transfer to Hamburger SV looks most likely. He has passed a medical test at HSV, but the contract has not been signed yet.

Before the 2010 FIFA World Cup Adler had been Germany's number one, but an injury kept him out and Manuel Neuer became the new number one and cemented his place since. Thereafter Adler had numerous injuries which have hampered his career then a while back it was discussed if he would join Bayern Munich or Manchester United. Now that looks like it was ages ago.

Rene Adler: Stay or leave Leverkusen?

Bayer 04 Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler has been having a tough time for a while due to numerous injuries. It started ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup with Adler on the verge of going into the tournament as Germany's number one goalkeeper, but it would be the tournament that Manuel Neuer would establish himself as Germany's number one amongst the new generation of goalkeepers.

Then before the start into this season 26 year old Rene Adler once more got injured and Leverkusen signed teenager Bernd Leno on loan from VfB Stuttgart as a stop gap shot stopper. A gamble, but one which paid off as Leno did well and Adler wasn't recovering fast enough from his injury that Leverkusen signed Leno on a long-term contract from Stuttgart, which has put Adler in a spot.

As Adler continues to be injury prone Leverkusen will likely bet their future success on the younger, healthier Leno; while Adler who is said to have had interest from Manchester United and other European top clubs last season is left on the bench and now has to look for alternative options.

Bundesliga rivals Hamburger SV are said to be interested in the German international, but HSV will surely not make any move in the winter transfer window as their Director of Sports Frank Arnesen has said. The risk in Hamburg like in Leverkusen could be for Adler that the current number one Jaroslav Drobny would be also there as competition.

Rene Adler a Manchester United target?

40 year old Edwin van der Sar is finally set to retire next summer and that is giving manager Alex Ferguson some headache, then who would and could replace the reliable Dutchman? Now a new (old) candidate has emerged in German international goalkeeper Rene Adler and what makes it really interesting is that Adler is a Manchester United fan since his childhood days and has a special release clause for only the Red Devils.

The list of potential new Man United goalkeepers include Dutch international Maarten Stekelenburg from Ajax Amsterdam, Germany's number one Manuel Neuer of FC Schalke 04, Atletico Madrid's young sensation David de Gea, FC Liverpool's Spanish keeper Pepe Reina and now Adler. In the meanwhile Ferguson has already signed Danish keeper Anders Lindegaard for 5 Million Euros from Norwegian club Aalesunds FK for January. But Lindegaard's signing is one for the future.

The nine time German international missed the 2010 FIFA World Cup due to injury, but along with Neuer he is part of the new wave of young German goalkeepers, who have been making a mark in the Bundesliga. And the special clause in his contract make him even more interesting for United for whom Adler surely would be a wise buy.

The clause was confirmed by Bayer 04 Leverkusen Managing Director Wolfgang Holzhauser saying, "It is an escape clause with a difference, because it only refers to one club. If United offer a certain amount, we have to let Rene go. He has always supported them, and he wanted to make sure the door was open, should they come calling. I know they have watched him quite a few times, so it may be difficult for us."

Adler has a contract at Bayer 04 Leverkusen running until 2012 and the release clause would allow him to leave Germany for a fee of 24 Million Euros in 2011 for Manchester United and with van der Sar retiring it would be the perfect time for him to make the switch to England, if the club wants him. Therefore Leverkusen's offer to extend Adler's contract is on hold until Manchester United sort their goalkeeper issue. If not Manchester United, then Adler will remain in Leverkusen.

Goalkeeping blow to Germany

Bayer 04 Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler announced today he would have to opt out of the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup.

And now Germany will have to search for a new No. 1 with Schalke's Manuel Neuer and Werder Bremen's Tim Wiese the candidates to take over Adler's role.

Coach Joachim Loew will now have to name a new No. 1 in less then a year. The original plans were to go into the World Cup with Robert Enke as Germany's No. 1 goalkeeper. But the Hanover goalkeeper who lit under depressions, committed suicide last November. Adler then followed in his footsteps.


Adler's bad luck

Adler, who was named No. 1 for the World Cup earlier this year, had suffered a rib injury in last month's Bundesliga game against VfB Stuttgart. He did make a comeback on Saturday, May 1 against Hertha BSC Berlin, but the keeper again felt pain after the game which forced him to reconsider his comeback decision and opt for an operation which would end his dream of playing in this summers World Cup.

Adler was honest to himself as he felt he wouldn't be able to give 100% with the rib injury.

"The pain is so great that I would not have been able to perform at my best over the longer term both in training and during matches," Adler said in a statement.

Adler has a history of rib injuries. In 2006 such an injury had nearly ended his career.

But it wasn't the only injury blow to Germany. Adler club teammate Simon Rolfes also informed Loew he wouldn't be part of the World Cup squad, but this was expected news with Rolfes having been out for month's.


Keeper No. 3

Now it will be interesting to see who would be the third goalkeeper when Joachim Loew announces his provisional squad on Thursday. Amongst the top candidates are Bayern Munich's seasoned Hans-Joerg Butt as well as Borussia Dortmund's Roman Weidenfeller.

If Butt is chosen he would make a surprise international comeback after seven long years. But Butt is a trusted veteran and was Germany's No. 3 goalkeeper in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

What would make Butt's international return so interesting is that he had leave Bayer Leverkusen a few years ago as Adler became the new No. 1 at the club.