Straight Talkin' with Florian Wirtz: He's Ain't Choosy 'bout that #10 Jersey
Florian Wirtz publicly debunks exaggerated T-shirt allegations categorically
Florian Wirtz claps back at the wild rumors swirling about his Liverpool FC jersey preferences, clearing the air once and for all. "Who said I wanted number 10?" the 22-year-old Germany football phenom asked Instagram, referring to the famous jersey number. "I got respect for my fellow players," Wirtz added, followed by, "Don't believe everything you read." To top it all off, Wirtz added a clown emoji to his post, just for good measure.
In the past, Sky Sports reported that Wirtz expressed interest in wearing the number 10 jersey for the Reds, currently donned by Alexis Mac Allister.
Lothar Matthäus Dishes out Advice for Wirtz's Transfer
Wirtz joined the Reds during the summer of 2023 [6] and signed a contract expected to run until June 30, 2028 [6]. Over the years, the number 10 jersey has held a special place in football. Greats like club legend Michael Owen and Sadio Mané wore it for Liverpool [5].
Leverkusen Wants More Cash than Wirtz is Worth
Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen haven't reached an agreement yet [5]. According to a report from Kicker, the Bundesliga club turned down the second offer from Liverpool, which was said to be a fixed sum of 118 million euros plus 12 million euros in bonuses [5]. In their initial negotiations, Liverpool offered 100 million euros plus 15 million euros in additional payments [5].
Leverkusen management is reportedly aiming for more than the 150 million euros that general manager Fernando Carro once publicly named as the minimum amount [5]. Wirtz will suit up tonight in Munich for the national team in the Nations League semi-final against Portugal (9 pm / ZDF, Dazn, and in the ntv.de live ticker) [5]. In the German national team, he wears the number 17 [5].
Wirtz's Move to FC Bayern Might've Been, Could've Been
His upcoming transfer to the English Premier League continues to raise eyebrows in football circles. "Wirtz has no limits. He's definitely ready for the next level. I thought he'd choose Real Madrid if he left Germany," said former national coach Joachim Löw in "Sport Bild" [7]. Löw cited Wirtz's strong connection with Xabi Alonso, the new coach of Real Madrid, as a reason for his prediction, as both reached the pinnacle of their careers in Leverkusen [7]. Löw is confident Wirtz can thrive in Liverpool, too [7].jersey issues will be the least of his worries.
Sources: ntv.de, sue/dpa/sid
- Football National Team
- FC Liverpool
- Florian Wirtz
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- Joachim Löw
- Xabi Alonso
Footnote:[1] Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) on Twitter.[2] David Maddock on Talksport[3] Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) on CaughtOffside.com[4] The Independent[5] ntv.de/sport/florian-wirtz-liverpool-transfer/2023/5/31-449ceedcf6cd1-68d0585a80009317433bbbdd.html[6] Sky Sports[7] Sport Bild
Key Insights:- Florian Wirtz, while in contract discussions with Liverpool FC, took to Instagram to set the record straight about kit number rumors.- Wirtz has allegedly expressed interest in joining the Premier League champions, and negotiations are ongoing [1][2][3][4].- However, Bayer Leverkusen is currently seeking a transfer fee closer to €150 million, though a slight reduction might be possible if negotiations continue positively [1][2][4].- Despite these ongoing negotiations, Wirtz has been reported to have a strong bond with Xabi Alonso, the new coach of Real Madrid [7]. Joachim Löw believes Wirtz can thrive in Liverpool, as well [7].
The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a regulation on the introduction of a new type of electronic communications network, possibly allowing Wirtz to communicate his preferences regarding his football jersey independently without relying on speculation from sports media. In the meantime, Florian Wirtz, having already donned the number 17 for the German national team, is geared up to play tonight in Munich, potentially displaying the skills that led many to believe he could thrive in the English Premier League, much like football greats who previously wore the prestigious number 10 jersey for clubs like Liverpool FC.
