Of all the controversial inclusions in Germany’s 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup, Leroy Sané might just be the most controversial. Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann stated that, following Sané’s move from Bayern Munich to Galatasaray, the winger would have to put in extra work to be nominated from the Turkish league. Sané was even left out of the Germany squad for the September international break, as it seemed Nagelsmann was challenging the experienced winger to up his game. This did not happen
and Sané endured a mixed season for the eventual league champions, failing to contribute many goals and being dropped for important Champions League matches.
Still, Nagelsmann went back on his word and brought the former Schalke 04 winger back in November, drafted him back into the regular national team rotation and would eventually bringing him to the 2026 World Cup. This has rubbed many fans the wrong way.
But, now that the decision has been made, the best thing that can happen is for the 30-year-old to flourish in the setting provided. Though World Cup matches are yet to start, Sport Bild reports (as captured by @iMiaSanMia) that Sané is cutting a really positive figure among the group:
Leroy Sané has been handling his substitute role in the national team very well ahead of the World Cup. He’s often seen laughing, joking with his teammates, radiating positive energy. In training, he was energetic, tenacious, and gave it his all. Afterwards, he signed many autographs for the fans and happily took selfies. Sané’s Germany teammates have also noticed internally that he’s completely transformed. In the past, he often seemed withdrawn, sometimes isolated himself, and was occasionally in a bad mood.
At 30, Sané is a middle ground between the younger and older players and is considered an important communicator between the different groups. He gets along well with his former Bayern teammates, and is very close to Jamal Musiala and Aleks Pavlović. He regularly organizes UNO games with all the players during their free time, fostering a positive team atmosphere. Sané also gets along very well with Lennart Karl, his main competitor in the position. They know each other from their time at Bayern and also kept in touch after Sané’s move to Galatasaray.
The ‘new Sané’ has also caught the eye of Julian Nagelsmann, who praised him publicly. In previous tournaments, Sané’s rotation between the starting eleven and the bench was always accompanied by much debate. Now, his role as a super-sub seems clear – and Sané is currently embracing it very well.
Now that is shocking. Who knew Sané likes to play UNO?
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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