Manuel Neuer, the famous goalkeeper for FC Bayern Munich and the German national team, is apparently getting married for the second time this weekend. According to media reports, the 39-year-old will marry his wife Anika (28) at a church ceremony in South Tyrol - and in the strictest secrecy.
The picturesque Freudenstein Castle in Eppan on the Wine Route serves as the backdrop for the festivities, which take place from Thursday to Sunday and during which the entire area around the exclusive location is cordoned off. The centuries-old castle, which towers majestically over the vineyards, is known for its exclusivity and the discretion it demands of its guests. It is precisely this discretion that seems to be the Neuers' top priority.
Secrecy at the highest level
To keep prying eyes away, insiders say that the wedding plans were pushed ahead under false names. The guest lists are said to contain the aliases "Anton" and "Lisa" instead of Manuel and Anika. In addition, all the rooms at the posh resort were blocked for the entire weekend, underpinning the rumors about the upcoming "dream wedding".
The Freudenstein CastleThe castle complex dating back to the 13th century is one of the most exclusive wedding venues in South Tyrol. Anyone wishing to get married here must rent the entire complex, including the ten luxury suites, exclusively for several days. The estate has been owned by the Gostner family for around 20 years and is personally managed by Karoline Fink. It has its own castle chapel, various halls and terraces with breathtaking views of Eppan, Bolzano and the Dolomites. The exclusive cuisine under the direction of chef Danilo D'Ambra also contributes to the good reputation of the castle and the entire tourist destination.
The region is not new territory for Manuel Neuer: he completed a training camp there with the national team back in 2010. In his private life, the goalkeeper has experienced significant changes in recent years. In November 2023, Manuel and Anika tied the knot in a civil ceremony on Lake Tegernsee. In March of this year, their happiness was crowned with the birth of their son Luca. The then small and reserved civil ceremony with just 20 guests is now to be celebrated with a big party - a wish that Anika in particular had.
The celebrations are set to begin on Friday with a big pre-party for prominent guests from the world of sport, before the actual ceremony takes place on Saturday. Although the couple have not yet made any public statements, Anika Neuer recently provided a telling clue: in June, she celebrated an exuberant hen party on the Côte d'Azur with her friend Sophia Schneiderhan (24), the partner of former national team player Michael Ballack, among others. In photos, Anika can be seen wearing a headband with the word "Bride" on it, while her friends thank her for the "best Bachelorette trip".
For Manuel Neuer, whose first marriage to Nina Neuer ended in 2020, this second church wedding marks an important step. With the Bundesliga starting in mid-August, the goalkeeper still has some time for a potential honeymoon before pre-season preparation with FC Bayern begins on July 28. This time, everything should go perfectly "without any goals against".
