Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno has turned down a call-up to the German national squad for the October internationals after learning he not play.
National team manager Julian Nagelsmann wanted to name the 32 year-old, who has enjoyed an excellent start to the new season with the Whites, in his squad to replace the injured Marc-André ter Stegen. But Leno told German sports tabloid Bild that he respectfully rejected the request as rather than replacing the Barcelona goalkeeper in the starting line-up, he would be Nagelsmann’s third choice.
Leno, who missed out on a call up for the European Championships held in Germany last summer, felt he would be better prepared for the forthcoming Premier League matches by training with his team-mates at Motspur Park. He said:
“They told me I would be there, but that I wouldn’t get a game. That’s why I decided to train in London [with Fulham]. Julian knows that I’m always there when they need me and that I can really help the team. At 32, I’m no longer a newcomer. I’ve never put demands on Manuel [Neuer] and Marc, I’ve always delivered and never made jokes.
After all my games in the Bundesliga, Premier League and internationally, Julian and Andreas know what they have in me. It will always be a great honour for me to play for the national team and that remains the goal.”
