Former German legends Dietmar Hamann and Oliver Kahn have criticised the inclusion of Said El Mala in Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches. Kahn argued that players should not be selected based on just two or three good performances, while Hamann felt that Nagelsmann should have waited until March next year to give El Mala his first opportunity with the national team.

Leroy Sane has returned to the Germany squad for the final World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Slovakia, with Julian Nagelsmann also handing a shock first senior call-up to Koln’s breakout talent Said El Mala. The national coach says Sane has “earned his nomination” after previously casting doubt on his future with the national team due to his summer transfer to Galatasaray.

Leroy Sane has praised Vincent Kompany’s leadership and vision amid Bayern Munich’s 16-game winning run this season. The German winger, who played under Kompany last season, believes the Belgian’s influence is already clear at Bayern and expects him to have a brilliant coaching career, while he focuses on his new start at Galatasaray.

Leroy Sane has hinted at a possible return to his boyhood club Schalke, saying he could imagine ending his career where it all began. The former Bayern Munich winger, who made a switch to Galatasaray in the summer, called the idea of a Schalke reunion 'exciting', but admitted that it will not happen anytime soon.

Leroy Sane has experienced a mixed start to life at Galatasaray after joining in a free transfer from Bayern Munich in the summer. Former player Alparslan Erdem, who spent two years at the Turkish heavyweights, has cited former Chelsea and Ajax attacker Hakim Ziyech's example as a cautionary tale, urging the German winger to "get his head straight first."