Key players and family influential in Manuel Neuer's Germany comeback
| Photo: Adam Pretty/Getty Images. |
According to Sport BILD, key national team players strongly advocated for Manuel Neuer's World Cup call up to Julian Nagelsmann.
The decision to recall the 40-year-old into Germany's plans for the 2026 World Cup have also reportedly created controversy.
Regardless, Neuer's performances in the latter stages of the Champions League reinforced the arguments of his Germany teammates.
His colleagues at the German record champions even urged him to reconsider his retirement from the national team.
Neuer's family also encouraged him, giving their approval for both another season with Bayern and a potential World Cup appearance.
This new direction was then communicated to the DFB, but up to that point, there had been little to no contact between Nagelsmann and Neuer.
Then phone calls became more frequent, and the idea of a comeback was discussed between the two sides, as well as internally at the DFB.
The national team coaching staff was in agreement that Neuer's willingness to play in the World Cup opened up a new option for them.
