Frosty reception for Neuer
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China Daily, July 8, 2011
Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer made his first competitive appearance for Bayern Munich on Wednesday, but was given a frosty reception by some of the Bavarian giant's die-hard fans.
Having finally joined Bayern from arch-rivals Schalke 04 last month, there are still some Munich fans who do not want Germany's first-choice goalkeeper playing for them, because he is a self-confessed Schalke fan.
At Bayern's training camp on Lake Garda in north Italy, Neuer played his first 45 minutes of soccer in a Munich shirt when his team hammered local side Trentino 15-0 in a friendly as new striker Nils Petersen netted a hat-trick.
Neuer replaced Germany's Jorg Butt at halftime in the low-key rout, but some fans in the crowd of 2,500 made their feelings known.
"You can save as many balls as you like, but we will never accept you in our jersey," read one sign.
The 25-year-old Neuer had been given a warm welcome by the bulk of fans when he was introduced to Bayern's supporters on Saturday at the official season launch in Munich.
