Ex-Germany international Demirbay wouldn't return to national team

Former Germany midfielder Kerem Demirbay said that he would not return to the national team if asked. He "doesn't identify anymore" with the Germany team, he told news portal Spox.

"If the German Football Federation asked me today to play a World Cup, I would say with huge respect: Guys, I prefer go on holidays with my family," he said in the interview published on Tuesday.

Demirbay played in the Bundesliga for Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen, among other clubs, but since 2023 has been playing in Turkey for Galatasaray.

Although he was born in Germany and is very grateful to the country, "I feel at home now in Turkey and don't want to leave. As soon as I set foot on Turkish soil, I felt at home," he said.

He played two matches for Germany after deciding against representing Turkey.

"Of course I would have liked to have played for Germany more often. But when I now experience what it's like to play in a Turkish stadium, how much the fans push you, then I think I might have made a different decision based on this experience," he said.