Commentary on the Neuer affair: A tragedy for Baumann and a communications disaster for Nagelsmann

Julian Nagelsmann Manuel Neuer

Manuel Neuer appears set to return to the DFB squad, a move that would be a personal setback for Oliver Baumann—and one for which national team manager Julian Nagelsmann would be held responsible. The Bayern goalkeeper's comeback would also damage Nagelsmann's credibility, creating a communications disaster that could have been easily avoided. A commentary.

Throughout his tenure as Germany coach, Julian Nagelsmann has been praised for one consistent trait: players always know where they stand. Even in the build-up to the 2024 European Championship on home soil, the 38-year-old used clear statements to ensure that every player knew his intended role, leaving no room for misunderstandings. On occasion, his messages were almost too direct—most notably in his much-discussed handling of Deniz Undav.

Ahead of the World Cup, Nagelsmann told Undav that, despite his strong form and impressive statistics for VfB Stuttgart, he was not a first-choice striker—a decision that sparked debate during the recent friendlies against Switzerland and Ghana.

It is therefore surprising that the national team manager has shown a lack of clarity and decisiveness in handling Manuel Neuer's potential return to the German national team. If Neuer does appear on Nagelsmann's provisional squad list this Thursday, it will be a communications disaster and a loss of credibility for the manager.

Whenever asked in recent weeks and months, he insisted that the debate was moot, given Neuer's definitive retirement from the DFB squad after Euro 2024, and that Oliver Baumann would be his number one at the World Cup.

Should Neuer now perform a U-turn, the onus would clearly be on him; Nagelsmann would simply be reacting to the retraction of a retirement already announced. Yet, at this late stage, such a reversal would feel both unprofessional and unnecessary.

SV Werder Bremen v TSG Hoffenheim - Bundesliga

Manuel Neuer's return would come at the expense of Oliver Baumann.

For TSG Hoffenheim's goalkeeper, a Neuer comeback would be a bitter blow. Since stepping up, the 35-year-old has hardly put a foot wrong in the national jersey; during the World Cup qualifiers he was at times outstanding, earning the number one spot ahead of Stuttgart's Alexander Nübel for the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

As recently as Saturday afternoon, immediately after Hoffenheim's 0-4 defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach, Baumann appeared confident of going to the World Cup as first-choice goalkeeper. Nagelsmann had, in a "one-on-one conversation", clearly and unequivocally "expressed his confidence in me. "I have my information. Full stop." Should the 35-year-old suddenly find himself demoted to second choice behind Neuer, it would feel like an unprecedented snub.

In a position where continuity matters most, such seesawing would be counterproductive. Should Neuer give the green light to a return, he would definitely travel to the World Cup as number one, relegating Baumann—who is actually well established within the team—to the bench. The comparison cited by some experts with Toni Kroos's comeback ahead of Euro 2024 therefore does not hold water.

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Julian Nagelsmann should have sought a meeting with Manuel Neuer.

The whole affair could have been easily prevented by Nagelsmann.

According to Manuel, he and the national team manager were in contact, so when discussions about a possible return for Neuer flared up months ago, Nagelsmann should have called the keeper in for a frank talk and, so to speak, put the pressure on. Nagelsmann should have forced Neuer to decide sooner about his future in the DFB squad. Instead, he let himself be strung along, and now he is bowing to intense public pressure.

On the pitch, the numbers do not unequivocally favour Neuer. While the 40-year-old's vast experience can be invaluable at a tournament, Baumann's season was hardly inferior to the FCB captain's. Neuer's outstanding first-leg display against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final is offset by a rise in high-profile errors.

With the World Cup only weeks away, the squad should be focusing solely on the tournament, yet this avoidable distraction continues to hog the headlines. And it is unlikely to fade soon: no matter who starts in goal, the next slip-up will spark another fundamental debate.