Wanner declines Germany U21 call-up, Nagelsmann and di Salvo speak on matter
Wanner being perhaps the hottest topic in German footballing circles at the moment nevertheless led to Nagelsmann answering questions about the 18-year-old at his Monday presser. Di Salvo issued a statement as well.
Antonio di Salvo's freshly nominated Germany U21 squad will have to do without defenders Linus Gechter (Hertha BSC) and Kenneth Schmidt (SC Freiburg). FSV Mainz 05's Paul Nebel has already been named as a replacement. It has also been revealed that red-hot teenage talent Paul Wanner was invited to join di Salvo's camp, but turned the chance down.
Wanner continues to torch his way through Germany's top footballing flight. In Sunday's victory for his loan club 1. FC Heidenheim, the 18-year-old became the youngster ever Bundesliga player to score from the penalty spot. Wanner has now scored a goal in all four of his Heidenheim fixtures. He registered an impressive assist on Sunday as well.
The DFB's official line is that Wanner wishes to continue to focus on his conditioning with his new top flight side over the international break. Thus far, Wanner - who is also eligible to represent Austria - has not yet been capped at Germany's highest youth level. He has made 18 appearances at the U20 level and below.
Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann spoke on the young talent at his Monday presser. Wanner actually worked under Nagelsmann during his time as Bayern's head-coach. The current Bundestrainer didn't exactly confirm that Wanner's thoughts of representing Austria were behind him.
“He is a player with a lot of potential, and we have him firmly in our plans at the DFB," Nagelsmann said, "How early he joins the senior national team is ultimately up to him. I believe the Heidenheim loan is great for his development."
"As Bayern coach, I let him know what I needed," Nagelsmann continued, "He knows what he does well and what he needs to work on. In the end, it's up to him to decide which good performances will continue to cause a sensation and possibly even get a call from me.
In his own statement, di Salvo offered some more concrete words. Nagelsmann's counterpart explained Wanner's choice not to accept the call-up while insisting that - for the time being - Wanner wasn't entertaining the notion of heading over to ÖFB trainer Ralf Rangnick.
"It really wasn't an issue for him," di Salvo insisted, "It's not the time to talk about his future. For the time being, he's decided in favor of Germany."