Paul Wanner from 1. FC Heidenheim is still keeping an open mind as to whether he will play for the German or Austrian national football team in the future. He can “say quite clearly that my decision is still open. I haven’t decided anything yet,” the 18-year-old told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” and added: “Actually, I want to play in the Bundesliga for a whole year first to see where it goes, but maybe the decision will be made sooner. I don’t have a final feeling for the right time yet.”
Wanner is currently scheduled to play for the U21s at the German Football Association and has also impressed national coach Julian Nagelsmann. The midfielder, on loan from FC Bayern Munich, was actually recently nominated for the U21s’ two European Championship qualifiers against Israel and Estonia. But Wanner declined because he wanted to concentrate fully on his first year in the Bundesliga. But that time will end at some point. “Of course I won’t take a break forever,” says the teenager: “It’s not my goal not to be a national player. I want to start at some point.”
Decision within the family
Wanner is partly responsible for the Bundesliga leaders from Heidenheim’s upward trend, celebrating five wins in their first five competitive matches. The teenager himself has already scored four goals in competitive matches, but has also recently completed exhausting double weeks.
Wanner, who was born in Austria, already trained with the national team of team boss Ralf Rangnick in November 2022, who is still courting him. Before and after the Austrians’ training course, however, he was active in the German U-teams. In any case, he will discuss the final decision for a men’s national team with his family. “Dad, mom, me,” he said. No one else.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240912-930-231037/1
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