Manuel Neuer made it 'virtually impossible' for Bernd Leno and other goalkeepers to get a chance for Germany as ex-Arsenal star hails Bayern Munich legend

Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno has admitted that it was "virtually impossible" for any German goalkeeper to displace Bayern Munich legend Neuer as the Germany national team’s first-choice option. Leno noted that Neuer’s long-standing dominance between the posts made it extremely difficult for others to establish their own legacy with Die Mannschaft.

"I'm not the only one who got the short end of the stick because my career coincided with Manuel Neuer's. He made it virtually impossible for all of us," Leno told magazine 11Freunde. "No one could ever get past him. It's difficult when you have to compete with the best goalkeeper of all time.

"I have to be honest: Marc has had the better career and played for the bigger club, which ultimately makes him the better goalkeeper. And hopefully he'll finally become the number one at the DFB when he's fully fit again."

The "alleged beef" between the two goalkeepers, who were already rivals in the DFB youth teams, "was a media issue." Leno clarified once again: "Horst Hrubesch basically settled it back then when he said: 'Do you think I'm so stupid that I would put two goalkeepers who can't stand each other in the same team?'"

In the absence of the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Leno could have joined the national team last autumn, but only as the third-choice goalkeeper behind Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nubel. However, in a phone call with head coach Julian Nagelsmann, he said he was "the wrong man" for that role, as his ambition was to play. Nagelsmann’s response — that this decision did not "open the door any further" for future call-ups — was, in Leno’s view, "a totally fair statement." Goalkeeping coach Andreas Kronenberg also "understood the rejection from my perspective," he added.

Leno, who has only nine caps to his name, is unlikely to earn a recall to the national team setup under Nagelsmann. The likes of Ter Stegen and Nubel are currently the favourites to seal their spot as Neuer's successor following the 39-year-old's retirement after the European Championship last summer. However, if he could have a great 2025-26 season in goal at Craven Cottage, he could perhaps make a comeback.