"You don't need to know that": Manuel Neuer fuels speculation – is he really returning to the Germany squad?

Moments after Cologne earned a corner, Neuer signalled to the bench during a goal kick that he could not continue. Limiting his movement to his left leg, the FCB captain still appeared physically comfortable and even offered a reassuring thumbs-up to several Cologne players. The 40-year-old has struggled with minor injuries throughout the season, with his left calf a recurring issue.

With Bayern's DFB Cup final against VfB Stuttgart looming next week and a potential World Cup campaign on the horizon, an injury to Neuer would have been badly timed. However, the captain quickly gave the all-clear after the final whistle. First, he returned to the pitch, embraced his teammates and shared a few jokes. Then, beaming, he hoisted the championship trophy and jumped with abandon alongside his colleagues. Afterward, he told Sky: "I felt a twinge in my calf; I didn't want to take any risks with next week in mind."

According to Bild, the injury is not believed to be serious, and the plan is to monitor his progress over the next day or two.

Asked whether he had spoken to national coach Julian Nagelsmann recently, he replied, "No, not just now. We've been in contact all year—just as I have with other former coaches and officials." Several outlets had recently reported that the Bayern goalkeeper was included in national team coach Julian Nagelsmann's provisional 55-man squad for the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico. When Sky reporter Sebastian Hellmann asked whether he was now planning a comeback in the DFB squad, Neuer replied: "I'm completely relaxed. We're celebrating the league title today and have a very important match next week with the DFB Cup final. That's not on my mind today." He repeated this stance and, when asked whether he was ruling out taking part in the World Cup, added: "For me—as I said—that's not on my mind today. The beauty is, we're celebrating a title yet still have a job to do with this team next week. You don't need to know that."

As the saying goes: that wasn't a denial—quite the opposite, in fact. Neuer's return to the national team now appears to be edging closer. Julian Nagelsmann could provide further clarity late on Saturday evening during his appearance on ZDF Sportstudio.

Sky reporter Florian Plettenberg—who is usually very well-informed—has confirmed that Neuer's return to the DFB squad is a done deal.

On X, Plettenberg wrote: "World Cup return decided: Julian Nagelsmann brings Manuel Neuer back as Germany's number 1 – DONE". According to the report, Neuer has reversed his retirement decision after talks with Nagelsmann and DFB sporting director Rudi Völler.

Current number one Oliver Baumann, however, still expects to start at the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico. "I'm going into pre-season and then the World Cup with a lot of confidence. He has put his trust in me. Full stop," the TSG Hoffenheim keeper told Sky after the 0-4 defeat at Borussia Mönchengladbach. "I have my information—from my conversation with Julian [Nagelsmann]. It was a one-on-one conversation."