Klopp Opts to Exclude Leroy Sané from First Germany Squad

Jürgen Klopp, Germany’s newly appointed national team head coach, is set to unveil his first squad on Thursday — marking the official start of his tenure with “Die Mannschaft.” The announcement comes after Germany’s disappointing showing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the team exited early following a loss to Paraguay.

According to the German publication Bild, the upcoming roster will notably exclude Leroy Sané, the 30-year-old winger currently playing for Galatasaray.

Inconsistent club campaign

Klopp aims to launch a new era for the German national team in the wake of the World Cup setback. Sané appears poised to be among the most prominent absences from this fresh project.

Since joining the Turkish Süper Lig, Sané has experienced a volatile season at Galatasaray, alternating regularly between starting appearances and substitute roles.

Bild reported that Sané expressed dissatisfaction with Galatasaray’s management over his current situation. Yet his on-field output this season offers little leverage: he has registered zero goals and zero assists across five domestic league matches.

Underwhelming World Cup 2026 display

Sané also failed to meet expectations during the 2026 World Cup. Although former coach Julian Nagelsmann relied on him heavily, Sané rarely made a decisive impact in tournament play.

Despite being a regular starter in Germany’s lineup, he seldom left a meaningful imprint during the competition — which concluded with Germany’s premature and disappointing elimination.

As a result, Sané’s anticipated return to the national team under Klopp appears delayed for now. The omission represents a significant blow to the player, who has earned 80 senior caps for Germany.

Four demanding Nations League fixtures

Germany is scheduled to contest four high-stakes UEFA Nations League matches during the upcoming international break.

The team faces the Netherlands on 24 September, then plays Greece on 27 September. Germany meets Serbia on 1 October before concluding the window with a second fixture against Greece on 4 October.