Nagelsmann confirms ongoing contact with Neuer amid Germany comeback talk

Julian Nagelsmann has revealed he's in regular contact with Manuel Neuer amid reports suggesting the 40-year-old could come out of international retirement to feature for Germany at the World Cup.

Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images

Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has revealed that he remains in ongoing contact with Manuel Neuer.

“I always find it quite amusing when the public asks me whether I’m in contact with ‘Manu’. Yes, I am,” Nagelsmann confirmed on the series Bestbesetzung on MagentaTV.

“We call each other occasionally, we text occasionally. He is capable of using WhatsApp, as am I. We also sometimes talk about other topics beyond football. We have a very good relationship.”

Reports have consistently suggested that Neuer could come out of international retirement to play for Germany at the World Cup.

However, as Nagelsmann pointed out, the 40-year-old veteran has repeatedly played down such speculation.

“Manu has retired of his own free will. He has repeated that several times now. So I don’t think it makes much sense to keep discussing it constantly,” Nagelsmann stressed.

Neuer retired from international football after the European Championship in 2024.

Hoffenheim's Oliver Baumann is currently expected to be Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper at the World Cup.