Goalkeeper legend Sepp Maier is in favour of Manuel Neuer returning to goal for the German national football team following Marc-André ter Stegen’s serious injury. “Bringing Neuer back would be the best solution now,” the 1974 world champion told the “t-online” portal. “If he gets full support, he’ll definitely do it again. He’s still in top shape and not an old man yet.”
Ter Stegen from FC Barcelona will be out for a long time after tearing his patellar tendon, after becoming the new number one in the DFB selection after Neuer’s retirement from the national team after a long wait. Whether the 38-year-old regular goalkeeper of FC Bayern Munich could return is already being hotly debated.
Neuer could also play in the next World Cup
Addressing national coach Julian Nagelsmann, Maier (80) said: “I would recommend that we approach each other now and discuss this.” Neuer could easily play in the next World Cup in 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico at the age of 40.
Oliver Baumann from Hoffenheim, Kevin Trapp from Frankfurt, who is currently injured in his thigh, and Alexander Nübel from VfB Stuttgart could also be considered as replacements for ter Stegen in Maier’s opinion. “They would have to be introduced to the task, though. Manuel will be irreplaceable anyway,” stressed the former DFB goalkeeping coach. Neuer has always been the best goalkeeper in the world for him and still is.
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