Bundesliga shooting star Paul Wanner also shows with the U21 team why everyone is so enthusiastic about him. However, it is not certain that the 18-year-old football talent will continue to wear the DFB jersey in the future. Because the home country is also vying for the services of the young star.
The dream goal impressively showed why there is a tug of war between the German and Austrian associations over Paul Wanner. Receiving the ball, the volley, the entire movement – a feast for the eyes and a spectacular highlight in the 3:3 (3:1) win for the German U21 national team at the end of the European Championship qualification in Poland. The 18-year-old was very happy about his first goal in the second U21 international match – but will he stay in German football beyond that?
Wanner, who was born in Austria, has not yet made a decision as to whether he wants to play for Germany or his country of birth in the senior team in the future. National coach Julian Nagelsmann is said to be impressed by the offensive player from 1. FC Heidenheim, Austria’s team boss Ralf Rangnick has already let the young star train with the national team in November 2022.
“He really enjoys it,” says Wanner’s trainer
Coach Antonio Di Salvo from the German U21 called Wanner into the squad for the first time for the last qualifying games against Bulgaria (2-1) and Poland and paid little attention to the future plans of the sought-after great talent. “That didn’t matter at all now. The goal was to integrate Paul well,” said the coach: “Of course we talked about how he felt welcomed, whether he felt comfortable with us, whether everything was okay – and he confirmed that. He really enjoys it.”
There is no special treatment due to the special circumstances for Wanner, who was loaned to Heidenheim from FC Bayern. “I look after him just like I do the other players,” said Di Salvo: “I don’t think we need to make it particularly attractive to him. The fact that he is now with the U21 is privilege enough for him.”
Above all, the interaction with the also highly talented Brajan Gruda (Brighton & Hove Albion) Wanner is visibly happy. The goal to make it 2-1 against Poland was “somehow announced” during training, said the U21 coach: “I could already see that there was a connection, that they played well together.” However, Wanner received one Struck on the foot and had to be substituted at half-time.
Wanner, who also played for the German U17, U18 and U20, wants to take his time before making his final decision, perhaps even until after the European Championship finals from June 11th to 28th, 2025 in Slovakia. “I actually want to play a full year in the Bundesliga first to see where I go, but maybe the decision will come quicker. “I don’t yet have a final feeling for the right time,” he told “SZ” in mid-September.
jb/dpa
