Uli Hoeneß, honorary president of Bayern Munich, stated that he would welcome the return of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to the German national team. However, he also expressed sympathy for Neuer’s competitor, Oliver Baumann.
«If Manuel wants to, then I have absolutely no problem with it. I would be very happy if he were to go there,» Hoeneß told BR on the sidelines of Bayern’s championship celebration in Marienplatz, explaining his reasoning: «Because he is the best.»
Simultaneously, Hoeneß also told reporters that «I would feel very sorry for Oliver Baumann. A great guy, very likeable. I just hope this doesn’t cause too much unrest and disrupt the preparation.»
Neuer had retired from the DFB squad after 124 international matches and the home European Championship in 2024. Recently, there has been much speculation about the 40-year-old’s return for the World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada (June 11 to July 19). According to Sky, it is reportedly already confirmed.
National coach Julian Nagelsmann did not give a concrete answer on Saturday evening in the ZDF-Sportstudio. «There are only rumors at the moment, and we’ll see how things develop,» said Hoeneß. He added that he «doesn’t want to say anything about the national coach’s communication on the goalkeeper issue at the moment. You’d better comment on it. Tell your listeners and don’t always use us to criticize the coach.»
Neuer is currently sidelined due to muscular problems in his calf. It is not yet clear whether he will be able to play in goal for the DFB-Pokal final against VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.
English Translation:
Uli Hoeneß Expresses Sympathy for Oliver Baumann Amidst 2026 World Cup Goalkeeper Debate
Bayern Munich’s honorary president, Uli Hoeneß, has indicated that he would be pleased to see goalkeeper Manuel Neuer return to the German national team. At the same time, he acknowledged that this development would be difficult for Oliver Baumann, Neuer’s potential competitor.
Hoeneß stated, «If Manuel wants to, then I have absolutely no problem with it. I would be very happy if he were to go there,» he told BR during Bayern’s championship celebration. He justified this by saying, «Because he is the best.»
However, Hoeneß also voiced his empathy for Baumann, telling reporters, «I would feel very sorry for Oliver Baumann. A great guy, very likeable. I just hope this doesn’t cause too much unrest and disrupt the preparation.»
Manuel Neuer had stepped down from the DFB squad after 124 international caps and the home European Championship in 2024. Recent reports, including from Sky, have suggested that a return for the 40-year-old for the World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada (June 11 to July 19) is already finalized.
National coach Julian Nagelsmann offered no definitive confirmation on Saturday evening’s ZDF-Sportstudio program. «There are only rumors at the moment, and we’ll see how things develop,» Hoeneß remarked. He declined to comment further on the national coach’s handling of the goalkeeper situation, urging the media to address Nagelsmann directly rather than using Bayern officials as a mouthpiece for criticism.
Currently, Neuer is dealing with calf muscle issues, which have led him to reduce his training intensity. His availability for the DFB-Pokal final against VfB Stuttgart on Saturday remains uncertain.