Germany and Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann still considers Manuel Neuer, his predecessor at the national team, one of the world’s best.
“He definitely sets the standard. Manuel is one of the top three goalkeepers in the world,” Baumann told the Sports Bild weekly in an interview published on Wednesday.
Baumann became Germany’s number one after Neuer retired from the national team after Euro 2024, but remained active for Bayern Munich, and Julian Nagelsmann’s first option, Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen, suffered two long-term injuries.
The Hoffenheim man has a good relationship with Neuer and is not paying attention to recent speculation that the Bayern keeper could come back to the national team for the 2026 World Cup.
“Manu is above it all, both personally and athletically,” Baumann said, adding that Neuer has remained very down-to-earth despite all the rumours.
He now wants to retain his position even after Ter Stegen makes his return from injury.
“It’s a privilege for me to be in the national team, and I want to help the team. For a long time, I was in the background, on the bench. At the moment, I’m on the pitch,” he said.
“When Marc returns, I will support him and back every decision made by the coach. But right now, the perfectionist and athlete in me says: I’m really enjoying myself and I want to play in more international matches.”
On Thursday, coach Nagelsmann will name his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg (October 10) and Northern Ireland (October 13).
