Neuer comeback? Kimmich: "We have to respect his decision" | OneFootball

Hardly any player knows Manuel Neuer as well as Joshua Kimmich. For almost a decade, the two have shared the pitch at FC Bayern, won numerous titles, and shaped the club like few other duos. Now Kimmich has spoken out about the discussion surrounding a possible Neuer comeback in the national team — and his words are unequivocal.

“Manu can lead any team. He has been the best goalkeeper in the world for 20 years,” Kimmich said in an interview with Welt am Sonntag. “In the end, it was his decision to retire, and we all have to respect his decision.”

The 30-year-old makes it clear: As great as Neuer’s influence and quality are, his retirement stands, and Kimmich does not want to fuel a new debate. Instead, he praised the current stand-in: “Overall, we are very well equipped in the goalkeeper position. Oliver Baumann has performed excellently in the last matches.”

The goalkeeper question remains a topic at the DFB

Photo: IMAGO/Eibner | Photo: IMAGO/Eibner,

The Neuer situation continues to occupy the public. Due to the injury to Marc-André ter Stegen, who is unlikely to be available before early 2026, the hierarchy in the DFB goal is more open than it has been in a long time.

Baumann may have done well recently, but whether the Hoffenheim keeper will remain number one at the 2026 World Cup is uncertain. Voices like Uli Hoeneß or Neuer’s agent Thomas Kroth have brought up the 39-year-old’s comeback in recent weeks. Kroth told the Frankfurter Rundschau: “If Julian Nagelsmann sees a problem in that position, Manuel is healthy, and he’s asked — then Manu certainly won’t say no.”

Nagelsmann stays in touch — but no signals from Neuer

National team coach Julian Nagelsmann recently confirmed that he is still in regular contact with Neuer: “I’m in touch with Manuel Neuer. But it’s not always just about football matches.”

A clear signal from the goalkeeper himself, however, is still lacking. At a public appearance in September, Neuer stated: “It was a conscious decision on my part that I am no longer part of the national team.” According to information from BILD, Neuer would not be averse, but only if a clear signal comes from Nagelsmann.

Even so, as long as the goalkeeper question in the DFB team remains unresolved, Manuel Neuer’s name will likely keep coming up — even if Joshua Kimmich is already making it clear that he fully accepts the retirement of his long-time teammate.

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