Bayern goalkeeper Neuer for the World Cup? Now Nagelsmann speaks | OneFootball

The speculation surrounding Manuel Neuer’s possible World Cup comeback continues unabated, and now national coach Julian Nagelsmann himself has commented on the discussion surrounding the Bayern captain

There continues to be growing evidence of a surprising return to the German national team for Manuel Neuer. After Sky reported on the Bayern keeper’s supposedly certain World Cup nomination, Julian Nagelsmann himself has now commented publicly on the matter – albeit in an evasive manner

Speaking on ZDF ’s „Sportstudio“ on Saturday evening, the national coach neither confirmed nor denied the discussion surrounding Neuer

„Sky put it out there – and then they’ll see what happens. They don’t know the details,“ explained Nagelsmann

Asked specifically about Neuer, the 38-year-old then deliberately kept a low profile: „I’m not talking about individual player names today. Everyone who has played a role during my tenure will get a call. I’m looking to talk to the player first, regardless of what his name is – that hasn’t happened yet. You can interpret everything. You’ll find out soon enough.“

Nagelsmann also jokingly spoke of the „62 phone calls“ he currently has to make with potential international players, adding that he has been „very fine with communication to date“

Neuer also avoids the questions

A few hours earlier, Manuel Neuer himself had also been conspicuously reticent about a possible participation in the World Cup

After FC Bayern’s 5-1 win against 1. FC Köln, the 40-year-old told Sky: „I’m totally relaxed about it. We’ve now won the championship – that’s what counts. There’s another game next week, everything else is not an issue for me today. For me, only the next game and the moment are important now.“

Neuer also responded rather evasively to questions about a possible exchange with Nagelsmann: „I have contact with the national coach from time to time, but nothing special.“

Neuer was substituted after 58 minutes in the last Bundesliga match, but the Bayern captain immediately allayed concerns about a recurrence of the injury

„No, definitely not,“ emphasised Neuer. „I felt a little something in my calf, that was all. We have another extremely important game next week. And of course I didn’t want to take any risks there, so I preferred to stay out. It was just a little twinge in my calf.“

According to information from BILD, a subsequent MRI examination did not reveal any more serious injury. Neuer then arrived a little late to Bayern’s championship party at Munich’s Nockherberg. When asked: „How’s the foot?“ he jokingly replied: „Which one?“

Decision will be made on May 21

Discussions about a possible World Cup comeback have apparently been going on in the background for days, with Neuer also reportedly on the provisional 55-man list that the DFB has already submitted to FIFA

However, Nagelsmann did not want to comment on this point either: „The list is not published, so I won’t comment on it. It is always our duty to put all players who are eligible on a possible list,“ explained the national coach

He continued: „It also includes players who haven’t even played in my era.“

The final decision will be made on May 21, when Nagelsmann announces his final World Cup squad

But one thing is already clear: the door for Manuel Neuer’s return to the national team is apparently no longer closed.