Germany have officially confirmed their squad for the 2026 World Cup, with the biggest headline being the surprise international return of Manuel Neuer.

The veteran goalkeeper, who stepped away from international duty after Euro 2024, has been recalled by Julian Nagelsmann and is now set to feature in his fifth World Cup, joining an exclusive group of football legends that includes Rafa Marquez, Gianluigi Buffon and Lothar Matthaus.

Neuer’s comeback largely stems from Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s ongoing fitness problems. The Barcelona goalkeeper has endured an injury-ravaged campaign and managed only a handful of appearances before suffering a serious patellar tendon issue during his loan spell at Girona.

As a result, Nagelsmann has turned back to Neuer’s experience for football’s biggest stage, with Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nubel completing the goalkeeping department.

The rest of the squad features the core that has defined Germany’s recent resurgence. Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz remain central figures, while Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger also makes the cut.

There is also room for fresh blood. Bayern youngster Lennart Karl earns a place alongside Leroy Sane and Nadiem Amiri, who returns to the national setup after impressing with Mainz 05.

Germany have been placed in Group E and will begin their campaign against Curacao in Houston on 14 June before taking on the Ivory Coast and Ecuador.

Squad:

– Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer, Oliver Baumann, Alexander Nubel.

– Defenders: Waldemar Anton, Nathaniel Brown, Pascal Groß, David Raum, Antonio Rudiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jonathan Tah, Malick Thiaw.

– Midfielders: Joshua Kimmich, Felix Nmecha, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Angelo Stiller, Leon Goretzka, Nadiem Amiri, Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz.

– Forwards: Maximilian Beier, Kai Havertz, Lennart Karl, Jamie Leweling, Leroy Sane, Deniz Undav, Nick Woltemade.

Real Madrid could be heading towards their first genuine presidential battle in nearly two decades, and businessman Enrique Riquelme is already preparing an ambitious sporting project built around two blockbuster names: Erling Haaland and Jurgen Klopp.

Although Riquelme has yet to officially confirm his candidacy, reports in El Confidencial suggest the businessman is actively laying the foundations for a campaign capable of challenging the current presidency of Florentino Perez.

With Real Madrid expected to head into elections following the board’s decision to bring the process forward, speculation around possible challengers has intensified in recent weeks. Riquelme now appears ready to position himself as the leading alternative.

According to the same report, the prospective candidate has already begun shaping both his boardroom structure and his sporting vision. Among the business figures linked to his potential project are David Mesonero, Angel Martin and Rosauro Varo. Yet it is on the football side where the biggest headlines are emerging.

Riquelme reportedly views Haaland as the ideal cornerstone of a new Madrid era and has already initiated contacts to explore the striker’s openness to a future move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Norwegian forward remains one of world football’s most coveted names, and uncertainty surrounding Pep Guardiola’s long-term future at Manchester City could potentially open a window of opportunity.

The businessman also dreams of convincing Klopp to lead the sporting project from the dugout. The former Liverpool manager, currently linked to the Red Bull football structure, is reportedly another major target for Riquelme’s proposed revolution.

Such a move would dramatically reshape the managerial landscape at Madrid and could directly affect ongoing speculation surrounding a possible return for Jose Mourinho. Much may depend on whether Florentino Perez retains control of the club or faces a genuine electoral challenge for the first time in years.

For now, no candidacy has been officially announced, but the possibility of Haaland and Klopp arriving together has already added a sense of intrigue and political tension around the future of Real Madrid.

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Casemiro is reportedly on the verge of joining Inter Miami, with the Brazilian expected to leave Manchester United after his final appearance for the club.

The MLS club emerged as the top candidate to land Casemiro after , seeing the Brazilian as a perfect replacement for Sergio Busquets. 

Casemiro has enjoyed an exceptional campaign at Old Trafford, combining his ball-winning qualities and playmaking attributes with nine Premier League goals. 

The 34-year-old will play his final game for the Red Devils against Brighton on Sunday, and then, according to Fabrizio Romano, will seal a transfer to Inter Miami. 

Lionel Messi’s side are confident of completing a move before the World Cup starts on June 11 after Casemiro was called up for Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad. 

A new challenge, therefore, beckons for the former Real Madrid star this summer after spending four years at United.

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