German footballing icon Lothar Matthaus has expressed his astonishment at Florian Wirtz opting for Liverpool instead of Bayern Munich. Yet he’s convinced that the midfielder has the prowess to make the transfer work.
Matthaus hasn’t shied away from criticizing his old club for what he deems a ‘most heavy, painful defeat’ in failing to secure Wirtz’s signature. Liverpool is hoping to clinch what could become a record-breaking acquisition of the highly-rated Wirtz.
Although no agreement has been finalized, Liverpool’s management sees securing this deal as crucial for its 2025/26 Premier League title defense campaign. Initially, it had emerged that Liverpool signalled its interest and was awaiting Wirtz’s verdict on his future destination.
On Friday night, it was widely disseminated through media reports that Wirtz is leaning towards a move to England rather than staying within Germany.
“Personally, I also thought Florian would want to stay in Germany for the next few years. He’s taking on a big challenge. It’s not just a new club: it’s a new mentality, a new language,” Matthaus disclosed to BILD.
Matthaus himself, who holds the record for most appearances with the German national team, went through a similar experience in 1988 when he transferred from Bayern Munich to Inter Milan before returning to Germany four years on.
Matthaus remarked: “But this step also shows that he’s not afraid. Florian Wirtz believes in himself 100 per cent – and rightly so: I have absolute confidence in him that he’ll make it at Liverpool and in the Premier League.
(Image: Getty Images)
“He doesn’t have to hide from anyone. A year before the World Cup, the move is also a risk, a leap into the unknown – but his friends and family will certainly support him very well.”
Matthaus didn’t hold back on his views regarding Bayern, particularly criticizing honorary president Uli Hoeneß and sporting director Max Eberl for the situation Vincent Kompany’s team has found itself in.
“This is a defeat for FC Bayern, and for Uli Hoeneß personally, certainly the most painful in the transfer market in recent memory: He had repeatedly said that Wirtz was their absolute dream player, and that FC Bayern would pull out all the stops to get him. Therefore, the rejection is also a heavy, painful defeat for Uli,” the former midfielder stated bluntly.
Learn more
“Bayern Munich is often taking the plunge these days. Max Eberl with [Thomas] Muller and [Leroy] Sane [both leaving at the end of their contracts], and now this case with Hoeneß with Wirtz. Uli had said they would do anything to get him.
“But the decision also shows: For Wirtz, FC Bayern is simply not the number one. The Premier League, with its quality up front and across the board, is the best league in the world, with great intensity and pace.
“Liverpool doesn’t yet have that kind of game-changing player in his position. Perhaps that was also a consideration: At FC Bayern, Jamal Musiala is actually the number 10. Perhaps he doesn’t want to share the position: I don’t mean that the two have a problem with each other.
“But I had a similar situation in my career: In 1986, Napoli also wanted me, but Diego Maradona played in the number 10 position. So I decided against it, even though I had nothing against Diego. Florian Wirtz can now flourish as a single number 10 in Liverpool.”
