Rudi Völler visited Berlin on Friday morning for an event hosted by Deutsche Telekom, where the company announced its acquisition of media rights for the 2026 World Cup, the 2027 Women’s World Cup, and the U-20 World Cups in 2025 and 2027. During this visit, the DFB Sports Director shared his insights on several players, including Florian Wirtz, Marc-André ter Stegen, and Benjamin Hübner.
Völler, who has a long-standing connection with Bayer Leverkusen, having held various roles in the club, expressed his desire for young talent Florian Wirtz to remain with Bayer until the 2026 World Cup. He stated, “My preferred solution would be for him to stay there for another year and then leave,” acknowledging the interest from major clubs like Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and Real Madrid. He added, “At the end of the day, it is always a question of price, and Leverkusen will have to say ‘yes’ at some point when a certain amount is reached.”
In the meantime, Wirtz will join the German national team for the Final Four of the Nations League from June 4 to June 8. Völler expressed confidence in head coach Julian Nagelsmann and his team, expecting them to perform well as they did during the European Championship, despite facing some personnel challenges. He noted, “We have a few absentees, but other federations do as well.”
Highlighting the return of Marc-André ter Stegen after his serious injury, Völler remarked, “It is more than positive that he is back.” He assessed that it is “quite possible” for the Barcelona goalkeeper to return to the starting lineup against Portugal, although he could not confirm that yet.
Völler also hinted at the possibility of Benjamin Hübner taking on a coaching role as Nagelsmann’s assistant, without offering any explicit confirmation. He commented, “We are on a good path to find a suitable successor,” referencing the shared football history between Hübner and former assistant Sandro Wagner.
This gathering emphasized the ongoing preparations and optimism around the German national team’s upcoming challenges, with hope in solid player performances and strategic moves in coaching roles. As the team gears up for the Nations League, fans and analysts alike remain eager to see how the unfolding events will shape the future of German football.