Munich, Germany – E be like say, Manuel Neuer don dey prepare to return to di German national team after im long break. Di man wey be top goalkeeper for Bayern Munich don show say e fit like a 20-year-old fitness freak. According to im manager, if dem call am to come back, e no go say no. But abeg, wetin dem go do with all di ‘retirement’ wahala?
Last year, after di Home EM wey Germany no too shine, Neuer talk say na im last dance for di national squad. But now, as dis 39-year-old man don dey shine like diamond again, dem dey reason say make he come back join di squad.
As how we no fit forget di voice of di national coach, Julian Nagelsmann, e don chook mouth for di matter. E mention say di new keeper wey take over, Marc-André ter Stegen, dey otigba as e don go through back surgery. Dis one mean say di Barcelona star go take time off di pitch, e fit endup for bench in Barcelona. Na wah!
Now di question be dis: when we dey think about di next World Cup for 2026, will Neuer, at 40, still carry di weight of di team? E be like say e go fit gree o, but Na still waiting for di coach side to give am di real opportunity. E no be say dem no dey find better options, but when di chips down, e get as e be.
Nagelsmann self don talk say e prefer make Neuer dey active if e go fit play regularly for di club. So, di interesting thing, if Neuer pull off a comeback, wetin go happen to di other keepers? Na wetin dem call ‘football politics’.
Di pressure no dey small as di man from Bayern don show say e no wan be secondary option. He don already shine before di eye with six Nations League games wey im miss due to injury. Now, everybody dey look up to see wetin go be next move for dis experienced keeper.
All dis wahala show say na real competition dey happen for dem pitch. We go just dey watch and see as e go unfold, because dis football matter fit surprise us any time.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor@nnn.ng