Neuer: I've never had a problem with Ter Stegen

Manuel Neuer insists suggestions of a rift with fellow Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen were blown out of proportion.

Earlier this year, Bayern Munich's first-choice keeper Neuer criticised his Barca counterpart for making "inappropriate" comments over his disappointment at not playing more regularly for Die Mannschaft.

However, Neuer later talked up the qualities of Ter Stegen, who has become one of the best number ones in the world at Camp Nou, and the former Schalke stopper says there was never an issue between the two.

"In principle, far too much was made of it," Neuer told Kicker. "I've never had a problem with Marc.

"We train for the national team together, but we don't call each other when he plays with Barcelona or I play with Bayern, and we wish ourselves the best of luck.

"We sit together at breakfast, have a normal conversation - as teammates, not as competitors. Each of us tries to show our best performance for the team so that we can be successful.

"This is important because we play in a team. In football, it is not like in handball with clapping and hugging and you hold the next seven meters. Football is a different culture."