Comeback calls grow louder: Neuer tops all rivals in fan voting | OneFootball

The calls for a comeback of Manuel Neuer in the German national team are growing louder – and the fans have already made their stance clear.

The catalyst was Thomas Kroth, the agent of the 39-year-old Bayern captain. With his statements, suggesting that Neuer would not rule out a return to the national team if approached by head coach Julian Nagelsmann, he sparked new speculations. The background is the shaky situation of Marc-André ter Stegen, who has been benched at FC Barcelona and is currently struggling with back problems.

Now, a BILD survey shows how fans view the goalkeeper issue. The result is a clear indication: Of over 70,000 participants, 49 percent voted for Neuer – a significant endorsement for the 2014 World Cup champion. Ter Stegen received only 20 percent, while Oliver Baumann, Alexander Nübel, and Noah Atubolu each garnered around six percent, playing hardly any role. Kevin Trapp and Stefan Ortega were also far behind in the readers' votes.

Neuer currently rules out a comeback

Photo: IMAGO

For experts like Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lothar Matthäus, it has been clear for some time that Neuer should return to the national team in the World Cup year 2026. Both recently praised his form at FC Bayern, where even at 39, he continues to deliver outstanding performances week after week.

Neuer himself remains reserved. At the championship reception in the Bavarian parliament, he made it clear: “This is not on the table for me. I am focusing on the club, on Bayern Munich.” A clear no sounds different – and is likely to further fuel the discussion in the coming months.

One thing is certain: If Neuer continues to perform strongly in the Bundesliga and Champions League, the pressure on head coach Julian Nagelsmann will hardly ease. The fan sentiment already speaks volumes – in favor of a World Cup comeback for the Bayern keeper.

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