National coach Julian Nagelsmann fully understands that the young star Paul Wanner, who is also eligible to play for Austria, is turning down an invitation to play for the German national team for the time being. “I didn’t think the cancellation was dramatic, it’s very heated,” Nagelsmann said at a press conference in Frankfurt and emphasized: “The statement he made is very mature, very good for 18 years, that he just hasn’t decided yet at the same level.”
Wanner, who is on loan from FC Bayern Munich to 1. FC Heidenheim, has not yet decided whether he wants to play for Germany or Austria’s senior national team in the future. He is currently playing for the German U21 team. For Nagelsmann it is important that a player does it with full conviction that he is proud to play for his nation.
Wanner was born in Austria and grew up mostly in Germany. He also played for the German Football Association in the U17, U18 and U20 teams. His mother is Austrian, his father is German. The offensive player had repeatedly said that he did not want to rush into anything with his national team future and would ideally like to play in the Bundesliga for a year.
“We have the fantasy that he can also play a role for us in a World Cup squad if things continue well in development,” added Nagelsmann, who is in good spirits: “He hasn’t said: ‘You’re a Completely blind and I don’t feel like training under you’. But he has a good reason and then it’s okay for me too.”