"He was sorry" – Baumann's phone call with Nagelsmann over World Cup goalkeeper snub
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Oliver Baumann and former Germany national coach Julian Nagelsmann had a conversation after the World Cup about the demotion of the TSG Hoffenheim player.
"He [Nagelsmann] was sorry about how everything turned out in the end," the 36-year-old told various media outlets, in Seefeld, Austria, amid TSG's pre-season training camp.
"I spoke with Julian ten days ago (…) We had already agreed to talk on the phone. Then we talked for almost an hour. I told him everything that was important to me."
According to the veteran goalkeeper the conversation with his former coach wasn't emotional “but completely neutral". Stating that it "settles the matter.”
The controversy stemmed from Nagelsmann's decision to strip Baumann of his starting position just weeks before the World Cup and opting for Manuel Neuer instead.
The Bayern Munich shot-stopper, emerged from retirement to feature at the 2026 World Cup, couldn't prevent Germany's bitter elimination in the Round of 32 against Paraguay.
"Of course, I had to swallow hard," Baumann said about his demotion. “I had this big goal,” he admitted, before explaining that at times it wasn't easy and took a lot of energy.
“But I managed to give the team a lot of energy [from the substitutes bench]. I think I laid the foundation from my side so that nothing stands in the way of success.”
