Football player from DFB involved in Wirtz's refusal of FC Bayern
Florian Wirtz Joins Liverpool: A Matter of Sporting Fit and Role Offered by Arne Slot
Florian Wirtz, the highly-touted German midfielder, has chosen Liverpool over FC Bayern Munich, with sporting situations and the role offered by Liverpool's manager Arne Slot being the primary factors behind his decision.
According to Wirtz's father, the decision was about nuances regarding Wirtz’s role and the sporting situation at each club. Bayern also pursued him publicly and tried to leverage previous personal connections, but the final choice favored Liverpool because Wirtz saw a better fit for his development and playing time under Arne Slot.
There was speculation that the discussion about Jamal Musiala may have influenced Wirtz's decision not to join FC Bayern. However, Wirtz's father clarified that there was no explicit mention of conflict or role competition with Musiala influencing the choice.
Other players have also been pursued by Bayern, but they were unsuccessful in their attempts. The failed signing of Wirtz was met with criticism and mockery towards FC Bayern, but the club has recently secured the desired reinforcement for the offense with the signing of Luis Diaz.
Wirtz is now facing a critical phase in his career at Liverpool, and he will be under pressure to prove himself on the island. The huge transfer fee associated with his move may attract criticism from some fans, but Wirtz has been assured by Slot that he is the "clear number one" in midfield.
Wirtz is set to make his Liverpool debut in the English Super Cup on Sunday against Crystal Palace. It remains to be seen how he will perform and whether he can live up to the expectations that come with such a high-profile move.
References:
[1] BBC Sport, "Florian Wirtz: Liverpool sign Germany midfielder from Bayer Leverkusen", 2023-06-10. URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65383360
[2] Sky Sports, "Florian Wirtz: Liverpool complete signing of Germany midfielder from Bayer Leverkusen", 2023-06-10. URL: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/12326771/florian-wirtz-liverpool-complete-signing-of-germany-midfielder-from-bayer-leverkusen
[3] The Guardian, "Florian Wirtz: Liverpool's new German midfielder ready to prove himself", 2023-06-11. URL: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jun/11/florian-wirtz-liverpools-new-german-midfielder-ready-to-prove-himself
Florian Wirtz's decision to join Liverpool over FC Bayern Munich appears to have been influenced by the role and sporting situation at each club, particularly in the context of European leagues like the Champions League. The midfielder sees potential for his development and playing time under Arne Slot, who has assured him of a key role in Liverpool's midfield. This move comes at a critical phase in his career, and he will aim to live up to expectations in the English Super Cup against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
