2 weeks ago
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Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann has warned Leroy Sane that he is running out of opportunities to prove himself ahead of the World Cup.
Sane has been called up to the national side for the first time since moving to Galatasaray in the summer, with Nagelsmann keen to take another look at the former Manchester City man.
Hit spot on the plane, though, is far from guaranteed, with time running out for the 70-cap winger to convince Nagelsmann that he is worthy of a spot in his squad.
'It's also due to his profile,' Nagelsmann said of Sane's eventual inclusion. 'If we had six or seven players in that position, it would be significantly more difficult for him.
'Leroy knows what's required. He knows that there aren't countless more opportunities for him to prove himself under my leadership in the national team, he knows that. I can say that so openly because I told him so openly.
'He's a player who can do everything, he just has to deliver. Nobody can help him with that, only he can do it himself. He has this chance now because his scoring rate is better than at the beginning, both in the Super Lig and in the Champions League.
Leroy Sane has been sent a word of warning by Julian Nagelsmann following his German recall
Nagelsmann said the winger is running out of time to impress him ahead of the World Cup
'But he still has steps to take to improve even further – both here and at the club.'
Germany can officially book their place at the summer's tournament in the current international break, where they will face Luxembourg and Slovakia.
Sane, who played under Nagelsmann at Bayern Munich, will hope to be involved in the games, but has had a slow start to life in Turkey after his shock £12million move away from Bayern Munich.
The winger's first major move was from Schalke to Man City for a fee of £54million, which the Premier League side recouped when they sold him to Bayern in 2020.
He scored 61 goals in 220 matches for the German champions, including 13 in 45 matches last season. Bayern had even been keen to extend his deal but he rejected the terms on the table.
The 29-year-old moved on in the summer and, despite a number of interested parties, opted to join the Turkish champions.
He has so far scored three goals in 15 appearances, having had to settle for the bench on a number of occasions - including being an unused substitute in the win over Liverpool in the Champions League.
