Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer should be asked whether he could see himself returning to the German national team until next year's World Cup in the wake of back surgery for Marc Andre ter Stegen, former great Sepp Maier has suggested. Ter Stegen, 33, is Germany's first choice goalkeeper since Neuer's international retirement in 2024.
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer should be asked whether he could see himself returning to the German national team until next year's World Cup in the wake of back surgery for Marc Andre ter Stegen, former great Sepp Maier has suggested.
Ter Stegen, 33, is Germany's first choice goalkeeper since Neuer's international retirement in 2024. But he is out for at least three months due to the operation and is also no longer number one at his club Barcelona.
Goalkeeper Maier, who won Euro 1972 and the 1974 World Cup with West Germany, told the t-online portal on Monday that coach Julian Nagelsmann should contact the 39-year-old Neuer over a return.
"I would definitely call Manuel Neuer and talk to him about whether he would help the national team again in this situation," Maier said, naming it "the best solution."
"It would only be until the World Cup, and after the tournament Neuer can stop again."
However, Maier also said he didn't know whether Neuer was interested at all and added that Germany also had other good goalkeepers in national team back-ups Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nübel.
Category: General Sports
