News Focus
- Germany icon Lothar Matthäus criticises Leroy Sané’s place in Julian Nagelsmann’s World Cup squad.
- Matthäus claims Sané has failed to impress at Galatasaray and is not a regular starter.
- The former captain suggests 1. FC Köln’s Said El Mala deserved the international call-up instead.
- Sané has scored seven goals and provided nine assists in 43 appearances for the Turkish club.
- Matthäus argues El Mala’s debut Bundesliga season showed more speed and determination.
Lothar Matthäus has publicly challenged Julian Nagelsmann’s choice to pick Leroy Sané for Germany’s World Cup campaign. The former national team captain insists the 30-year-old forward has not done enough to earn a spot.
Nagelsmann named his final squad on Thursday, selecting Sané as part of his attacking group. However, Matthäus believes this decision ignores the player’s poor form in club football.
“I know him well and I am usually a fan, but he has not played well this year,” Matthäus told RTL/ntv and Sport.de. “If the manager picks players based on performances and minutes on the pitch, this choice surprises me.”
Sané joined Galatasaray on a free transfer from Bayern Munich last summer. He has managed only seven goals and nine assists across 43 matches for the Istanbul side.
Matthäus recently travelled to Turkey for the Europa League final. He claims local supporters share his disappointment with the winger. “Even the fans in Istanbul are unhappy. He spends too much time on the bench,” Matthäus stated. “A Germany international must be a key player for his club.”
The 1990 World Cup winner believes Nagelsmann should have chosen younger talent. He specifically pointed to Said El Mala of 1. FC Köln as a stronger option.
“El Mala had a fantastic first season in the Bundesliga after moving up from the third division,” Matthäus explained. “He scores goals, makes assists, and shows real speed and strength. These are the qualities you need at a World Cup.”
Matthäus finished by comparing the two players directly. “When you look at the whole year, El Mala has clearly performed better than Sané,” he concluded.