Despite Germany rumours: Goretzka doubts Neuer will make a comeback | OneFootball

For months, the goalkeeper question in the national team has been a hot topic of conversation. First-choice goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is out injured, and his comeback is uncertain. FC Barcelona is reportedly even considering parting ways with him – it’s unclear whether the 33-year-old will be playing regularly again by the 2026 World Cup.

Currently, Oliver Baumann is in goal for the DFB, but many fans and experts still consider a Neuer comeback to be realistic. The 39-year-old is showing outstanding form at FC Bayern, aside from his recent mistake against Union Berlin.

Goretzka: “Manu has ended his career with the DFB team”

In an interview with sport.de, Leon Goretzka, however, expressed skepticism. The midfielder and Neuer are close friends – both hail from the Ruhr area and once played for Schalke 04. “Manu has ended his career as national team goalkeeper, so I don’t think he’ll be involved,” said Goretzka.

A clear statement – and it matches Neuer’s own stance. The Bayern captain recently emphasized: “The fact is, I have decided not to play for the national team anymore.” When asked whether this decision was final, he replied briefly and concisely: “Yes!”

DFB internally divided – Nagelsmann keeps his options open

Photo: IMAGO

However, things don’t seem quite so clear behind the scenes. According to BILD information, there are voices within the DFB who want to urge Julian Nagelsmann to have a conversation with Neuer – in case ter Stegen is not fit for action by spring.

The national coach himself recently said: “In football, things can always happen that require certain measures. As of today, that’s not the case. I am in good contact with all the main players. I can’t predict what the future will bring.”

Even former DFB legends are divided. Like Goretzka, Sepp Maier doesn’t believe in a return: “You’d have to ask Manuel first if he even wants to. I don’t think so – he’s finished with the national team.”

Former goalkeeper coach Andy Köpke, on the other hand, says: “If the best is supposed to play, then absolutely yes. We should wait and see what happens with Marc-André ter Stegen.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.