Mats Hummels trains in Germany's rivals' shirt after shock Euro 2024 snub under Julian Nagelsmann... as he insists he is among his country's 'five best defenders'
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Mats Hummels has been pictured training in a Greece shirt as he weighs up his next move after his shock Germany snub for Euro 2024.
The veteran defender remains a free agent after leaving Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season, his contract having run down this summer.
Hummels played a crucial role in leading Dortmund to the Champions League final and featured for the full 90 minutes in the defeat by Real Madrid.
But despite his superb form, Hummels, 35, was not selected as part of Germany's 26-man squad after being overlooked by Julian Nagelsmann.
Taking to Instagram, Hummels took a snap of himself sporting a Greece shirt in the gym and addressed the speculation over his uncertain future.
![Mats Hummels was left out of Germany's Euro 2024 squad this summer in a shock snub](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/19/16/86324379-13547539-image-a-1_1718811305962.jpg)
Mats Hummels was left out of Germany's Euro 2024 squad this summer in a shock snub
![The defender is a free agent after leaving Borussia Dortmund after the Champions League final](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/19/16/86324367-13547539-image-a-2_1718811311232.jpg)
The defender is a free agent after leaving Borussia Dortmund after the Champions League final
![Hummels took a picture of himself wearing a Greece shirt as he worked out in the gym](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/19/16/86324427-13547539-image-a-6_1718811372608.jpg)
Hummels took a picture of himself wearing a Greece shirt as he worked out in the gym
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'It's difficult to find a jersey for sports that doesn't cause any stupid rumours afterwards,' he wrote in a caption accompanying the picture.
Hummels had appeared to aim a dig at Nagelsmann after being excluded from Germany's squad and insisted he is among his country's 'five best defenders'.
He has played just twice on the international stage since Euro 2020 with Nagelsmann admitting that Hummels' advancing age was a factor.
'We have decided that [Antonio] Rudiger and [Jonathan] Tah will be our starting centre-backs,' Nagelsmann told reporters. 'Then it's about who are the most suitable players behind them? What do the substitutes have to bring?
'What's the age structure in the tournament and what happens afterwards?'
![Nagelsmann admitted Hummels' advancing age was a factor in his decision to leave him out](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/19/16/86324355-13547539-image-a-4_1718811329626.jpg)
Nagelsmann admitted Hummels' advancing age was a factor in his decision to leave him out
![Hummels has played twice for his country since Euro 2020, with both caps coming last year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/19/18/86324369-13547539-Hummels_has_played_twice_for_his_country_since_Euro_2020_with_bo-a-10_1718818107727.jpg)
Hummels has played twice for his country since Euro 2020, with both caps coming last year
Responding to Nagelsmann's comments, Hummels told Bild: 'If I understood him correctly it was more about age-related issues like fitness.
'If I'd had a period like the one I had recently before [the international break in] March, maybe I would have been called up - [and] for the European Championship squad as well. I can understand the idea that a group has been growing since March.
'It's bitter for me as an individual because I'm currently one of the five best defenders in Germany. I have the self-confidence to say that.'
Hummels has been linked with the likes of Tottenham, Newcastle, Chelsea, Roma and Mallorca since his second Dortmund spell came to an end.
He is reported to have endured a violent confrontation with former Dortmund boss Eden Terzic after openly questioning his tactics before the loss to Madrid.