Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels has admitted Julian Nagelsmann’s decision to leave him out of Germany’s preliminary 27-man squad for this summer’s European Championship has left him “bitter”.
The 35-year-old defender enjoyed an impressive season for his club, playing a pivotal role in Dortmund’s path the final of the Champions League, where they will play Real Madrid on June 1.
However, despite his club form, the centre-back will not get the opportunity to represent hosts Germany at Euro 2024.
He told German news outlet BILD: “I can understand the idea that a group has been growing since March. It’s bitter for me as an individual because I’m currently one of the five best defenders in Germany and I have the self-confidence to say that.
“If I understood him [Nagelsmann] correctly, it was more about age-related issues like fitness.
“If I’d had a phase like the one I had recently before [the friendly fixtures in] March, maybe I would have been called up [and] for the European Championship squad as well.”
Hummels’, whose contract with Dortmund is set to expire in June, has made 39 appearances in all competitions this season. He last played for Germany in November 2023.
Dortmund teammates Emre Can, Karim Adeyemi, and Julian Brandt were also omitted from Nagelsmann’s 27-man squad, which will have to be cut to 26 before the start of the tournament.
Germany begin their campaign in Group A against Scotland before facing Hungary and Switzerland for a place in the round of 16.
(ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images)
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