Serge Gnabry leaves Germany squad early to manage fitness ahead of Bayern return

Serge Gnabry has returned to Bayern Munich ahead of schedule after Germany head coach Jurgen Klopp decided to withdraw the winger from international duty as a precaution.

Gnabry played in all three of Germany’s matches during the current Nations League window and captained the side in their 2-0 victory over Serbia. He completed the first half in that match before being substituted at the interval, with Klopp unwilling to place additional demands on the 31-year-old as he continues to regain fitness after a lengthy spell out.

Germany have given no indication that Gnabry has suffered a new injury. His departure from the squad is instead intended to help manage his workload.

“Serge played in all of our games and featured as we had planned. After playing 45 minutes in our third game, he started to feel the strain,” Klopp said.

“We then took him off at half-time because we didn’t want to rush things.”

Gnabry will now have several days to recover in Munich before returning to Bayern training ahead of the Bundesliga’s resumption. Klopp said the forward could have remained with the Germany squad, but felt that a short break would better support his recovery.

“He could have stayed with the squad but we thought that it would make sense to give him two or three days before he returns to training with Bayern again,” the Germany manager added.

The latest decision is part of Gnabry’s continuing return from the adductor injury that ruled him out of the 2026 World Cup. His playing time had already been restricted earlier in the international break, while the Serbia game was his first appearance of 45 minutes since April.

Gnabry acknowledged after the match that he is still working towards full fitness.

“I’m not at 100 percent yet. This was now my fourth game. I played fewer minutes in the previous matches. But I have to get there through playing time. Every minute is important now,” he said.

Despite the careful management of his minutes, being named Germany captain for the first time in the win over Serbia represented an important step in his comeback. Gnabry described the occasion as “wonderful”.

He is expected to be available for Bayern’s upcoming match against Augsburg, with his early return giving the club further scope to control his workload before domestic football resumes.

Germany will be without Gnabry for their meeting with Greece in Thessaloniki. Felix Keidel has been called into the squad as his replacement.