Mats Hummels could make a dramatic return to Borussia Dortmund this summer despite announcing his retirement.

Mats Hummels could make a dramatic return to Borussia Dortmund this summer despite announcing his retirement.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Dortmund director Hans-Joachim Watzke has admitted the German club could look to sign Hummels in an emergency deal for the summer's Club World Cup, despite the 2014 World Cup winner announcing his retirement earlier in April.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Hummels enjoyed two spells with BVB either side of a move to Bayern Munich, emerging as a key player as they won two Bundesliga titles under Jurgen Klopp. He has spent the past year at Roma and was expected to hang up his boots after his announcement, but his former club's injury problems mean he could turn out for Dortmund during the Club World Cup in the United States.

WHAT WATZKE SAID

Watzke said on ZDF: "But there are currently a few players at the front, and those who have won the games in the last few weeks, they are not going to leave voluntarily and say, now we're going to sit on the bench because Mats is here for five weeks.

"We've actually agreed: If one of our defensive players is injured and can't participate in the Club World Cup, then Mats is our first alternative."