It has been three years since Bayern Munich were last on the road for a pre-season tour as Julian Nagelsman’s men prepare for this season’s warm-up campaign.
The perennial German champions have not featured in non-competitive matches overseas since the COVID-19 outbreak.
Despite having a relatively sparse preparation campaign ahead of Nagelsmann’s debut season, the Bavarians strolled to their tenth successive Bundesliga title last term.
In doing so, Robert Lewandowski and his comrades left runners-up Borussia Dortmund eight points behind.
Bayern landed a record-extending 32nd Bundesliga title despite going winless in three consecutive league matches down the tail-end of last season.
Therefore, Nagelsmann will be keen to get his side’s off-season warm-up underway as quickly as possible and preferably have Sadio Mane at his disposal by then.
Heavily linked with a summer switch to the Allianz Arena, the Liverpool ace has been pictured donning a Bayern training top amid talks between the sides.
Journalist Philipp Kessler tweeted the photo of the Senegalese forward in the famous red kit, suggesting the deal could soon become official.
It could allow Mane to form part of Bayern’s off-season squad that will head across the Atlantic this summer for their fifth visit to the United States.
Bayern Munich pre-season 2022/23 schedule
Like it was the case last summer, Bayern are set to participate in the Audi Summer Tour that will fly them over the ocean into the United States.
According to the club’s off-season schedule, Nagelsman’s side should arrive in the capital city of Washington on July 18.
Bayern’s inaugural pre-season encounter pits them against MLS franchise DC United on July 21.
With the new MLS season well underway, the Washington outfit should have the upper hand over the Bavarians in their opening summer friendly.
The sides have never met before, yet Audi Field won’t be an entirely unfamiliar destination for the German heavyweights.
While at Vancouver Whitecaps, Bayern speed-demon Alphonso Davies became the first visiting player to get on the scoresheet at this venue in July 2018.
DC president of business operations Danita Johnson refused to hide her enthusiasm about Bayern’s upcoming visit to Audi Field.
“FC Bayern Munich are one of the biggest and most storied clubs in our sport,” she said, as relayed by the MLS website.
“It’s a pleasure to host them and their side full of global superstars, like Robert Lewandowski, Manuel Neuer, Leroy Sane, and so many more, as part of the Audi Football Summit at our home stadium this summer alongside our great partner Audi.”
Only three days after taking on DC, Bayern will lock horns with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in a blockbuster friendly at the 81,000-seat Lambeau Field.
A mouth-watering reunion with their former boss will mark the first time that the home of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers will host a football match.
Then on July 30, Bayern and RB Leipzig will trade tackles at the Red Bull Arena in Germany’s Super Cup showpiece.
Nagelsmann’s clash against his former employers will be Bayern’s last test ahead of their visit to Eintracht Frankfurt for their 2022/23 Bundesliga curtain-raiser on August 5.
