Fulham star Bernd Leno has insisted he would turn down Germany again after his recent decision to do so, despite it leaving him somewhat ostracised at this moment in time.
The Fulham goalkeeper has been speaking to SportBILD about his decision to turn down a call-up to the national team in the last international break.
Julian Nagelsmann had wanted the 32-year-old to be a part of his squad for the wins over Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands in the Nations League.
Leno took the surprising decision to reject the call-up, though, insisting that he did not want to be a part of the group if he was not going to play.
He has only managed nine appearances for his country since making his debut in May 2016, with his last coming in a 2-0 win over Liechtenstein in February 2021.
He’s never been number one for his country, instead playing a back up role to the likes of Manuel Neuer.
That remains the case with the current group, where he would have been third choice at best or perhaps worse. This was made clear to him in talks with Nagelsmann, leading to the Fulham man’s decision to step away.
He’s been very open about that decision since and insists he’d make it again, even if it’s meant criticism from the outside.
“Yes, I would,” he said when asked if he’d make the same decision
“It was clear to me that there would be discussions. Although I did find it extreme in the end. I told Julian Nagelsmann openly and honestly that I did not see myself as number 3 with no prospect of playing.
“I have great respect for him and think that he is a very good national coach. That is why it is important for me to be honest with him. What was overlooked in some reports is that I had also told Julian and Andreas (national goalkeeper coach Kronenberg) that I am always there when I am really needed and that I am absolutely proud to play for Germany.
“That was our last contact (with Nagelsmann). After that I had another phone call with Andreas. But my opinion hasn’t changed. I believe that my decision was respected, even if of course nobody was happy about it. But I didn’t act out of emotion: I had given a lot of thought to the constellation in which I wanted to be there, how I see myself personally.”
