DFB President Bernd Neuendorf has clearly criticized Karim Adeyemi’s decision against the U21 national team. “I think it’s a mistake,” said Neuendorf at halftime in the European Championship qualifier against Estonia at ProSiebenMaxx. But there is “no point in forcing anyone to come here. It doesn’t help the team if someone shows up with half their effort.”

Neuendorf about Adeyemi: “It’s a sign from him how important he takes this”

Adeyemi was nominated by U21 national coach Antonio Di Salvo for the games against Estonia and Poland (Tuesday, 6 p.m.), but decided not to make the trip. Instead, the 21-year-old explained that he wanted to stay with his club Borussia Dortmund. Adeyemi apparently sees his future in the senior national team and is hoping for the home European Championships next year, but the new national coach Julian Nagelsmann has not yet called up the winger.

From Neuendorf’s point of view, Adeyemi’s waiver is a missed opportunity to recommend himself for higher tasks through the youth team. The U21 has “always been a springboard,” said the DFB President, citing Leipzig full-back David Raum and Bayer Leverkusen’s offensive artist Florian Wirtz as recent examples, both of whom were in Nagelsmann’s squad for the games against Turkey on Saturday (8:45 p.m.). /RTL) in Berlin and three days later in Vienna against Austria.

“I believe that you should be proud when you wear the eagle on your chest,” said Neuendorf. The fact that Adeyemi is not there is “perhaps a bit of a wasted opportunity, I regret that.”

The trainers “have to decide” about any consequences, said the 62-year-old: “It’s a sign from him how important he takes this. If he thinks he doesn’t want to play here, you can’t force him.” Neuendorf emphasized again: “It doesn’t help the team if you have to force someone to play here. It has to be with conviction, with passion.”