Leno confirms he rejected DFB call-up: "They told me I wouldn't get a chance to play."
| Bernd Leno | Granada CC BY-SA 4.0 |
The current goalkeeping situation at the German national team nearly led to 32-year-old Bernd Leno being drafted back to the German Nationalmannschaft. This was initially reported by Germany's Kicker Magazine last week prior to the confirmation that Alexander Nübel (Stuttgart), Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), and Janis Blanch (RB Salzburg) would serve as Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann's three keepers during the October international break.
Contacted for comment by Germany's “Sport Bild” tabloid, the Fulham professional confirmed that he declined a call-up in order to remain in London with his club team. The nine-times-capped German international cited playing time as the reason he chose to remain on the Isle. For the former Leverkusen man - working in London with Arsenal and Fulham since 2018 - it made no sense to head to Nagelsmann's camp.
“They told me I was in, but I wouldn't get to play," Leno told the tabloid. That's why I decided to train in London. Julian knows that I'm always there when they need me and when I can really help the team. At 32 years old, however, I'm no longer a newcomer. I never made any claims behind Manuel [Neuer] and Marc [André ter Stegen but have always delivered."
