Discussions surrounding Deniz Undav’s role in the German national team intensified during the recent international break. Now, an agreement between the player and head coach Julian Nagelsmann is expected to bring calm to the situation.
National coach Julian Nagelsmann (38) and VfB Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav (29) have reportedly reached an understanding to halt the public debate concerning Undav’s position in the national squad.
Following the 2-1 victory in the friendly match against Ghana, Nagelsmann reportedly called Undav. During this «reconciliatory conversation,» they agreed not to fuel further media discussions about Undav’s role with additional public statements.
The aim is to prevent new speculation and de-escalate the matter.
Deniz Undav: «Everything is good between us»
This arrangement became necessary due to the intense debate among fans and experts regarding Undav’s standing with Nagelsmann. Despite being the most prolific German attacker this season with 36 scorer points (23 goals, 13 assists in 39 games), Nagelsmann primarily sees Undav in a joker role and not as a starter for the upcoming World Cup.
After scoring the winning goal against Ghana as a substitute, Undav expressed hope that he could change his role through further performances. Nagelsmann, however, indicated that this was unlikely and that such statements only put undue pressure on Undav himself.
Former national player Stefan Effenberg criticized Nagelsmann’s public remarks, emphasizing that such topics should be discussed internally, not publicly.
Despite the public debate, the relationship between Undav and Nagelsmann is described as intact and characterized by great openness.
Undav confirmed this after his team’s 0-2 loss against BVB: «I don’t want to comment further on the topic. The matter is settled, everything is good between us.»
Deniz Undav: National Team Record
| Appearances | 90-minute appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 0 | 4 | 1 |