DFB president criticises Karim Adeyemi for rejecting Germany U-21s call-up
By Tushar Bahl
DFB president Bernd Neuendorf has criticised Karim Adeyemi for rejecting a call-up to the Germany U-21s side, and has stated that the coaches must now decide if there are to be any consequences.
Karim Adeyemi decided against going on international duty with the Germany U-21s, opting to train at Borussia Dortmund to make a case for more playing time instead. It was reported earlier this week that the 21 year old’s decision did not go down too well with Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann.
And now DFB president Bernd Neuendorf has criticised Adeyemi for not representing the Germany U-21s, calling his decision a mistake.
“I think the decision was a mistake,” Neuendorf told ProSiebenMaxx. “But there’s no point in forcing someone to come here. It doesn’t help the team if someone plays half-heartedly.”
Neuendorf added that it is a missed opportunity for Adeyemi to stake a claim for a spot in the Germany senior team. “I believe that you should be proud to wear the eagle on your chest. The U-21s team has always been a springboard. It is perhaps a bit of a missed opportunity, I regret that.”
When asked about the possible consequences for Adeyemi, Neuendorf said: “That’s for the coaches to decide. It’s a sign of how seriously he takes it. If he thinks he doesn’t want to play here, you can’t force him.”
It has been a difficult start to the season for Adeyemi, who has no goals and two assists in 13 appearances across all competitions so far. He has also lost his spot in the Germany senior squad, and represented the U-21s last month. However, he decided to turn down a call-up to Antonio Di Salvo’s side for this month’s matches.
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Karim Adeyemi will hope to find his form with Borussia Dortmund in the coming months, and aim to force his way into Nagelsmann’s plans ahead of next summer’s European Championship in Germany.