Wirtz Chooses Liverpool Over Bayern Munich: Allianz Arena Showdown
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High-stakes gaming spectacle revolves around Munich encounter for Wirtz, carrying a hefty price tag of a million dollars. - High-stakes poker match underway in Munich, with Wirtz as the contestant in a pricey round.
Last-minute, multi-million dollar poker games are the least of Florian Wirtz's concerns as he prepares to take the field for Germany's national team in the Allianz Arena, the very place he turned down a transfer to FC Bayern. With the Nations League semi-final against Portugal looming, Wirtz's decision and the intense Liverpool-Bayer Leverkusen standoff should be the furthest things from his mind.
"As a teammate, I just want him to make the best choice for himself, whether he decides to join Bayern or not," says captain Joshua Kimmich, ahead of the DFB selection's UEFA mini-tournament (Wednesday, 9 PM CET, ZDF/DAZN) match against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portuguese squad. Wirtz appears to be a man on a mission—one who's grown up before our eyes.
Transfer rumors have lost their luster for the German national team, who's seen numbers like 100, 130, 150 million euros flip by without a second glance. Strangely, something seems to have changed for the 22-year-old Wirtz.
From the moment he arrived at the team's quarters in Herzogenaurach with a pair of stylish, black sunglasses, there was an air of confidence about Wirtz—one that suggested a more mature player. No longer the quiet, reserved youngster, observers agreed.
Is this the end of his role as the enchanting midfield maestro? The world is his oyster—one he's yet to fully explore. For the first time, Wirtz remained silent on DFB events, leaving teammates and supporters to speculate about his plans as a Leverkusen professional.
Nagelsmann the Sounding Board
"I would have preferred him to join us at Bayern, I know what it's like to play with him," Kimmich admits. Munich seemed like a perfect fit for "Wusiala" and his partner Jamal Musiala. But with Liverpool as his chosen destination, the Liverpool player in the squad, Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann, was the go-to man in the Wirtz saga.
"Obviously, I've had quite a few chats with Flo, and we've talked about the move," reveals striker Niclas Fuellkrug, who found himself in similar waters as an English advisor after a challenging first season at West Ham United due to injuries. Wirtz, Fuellkrug is convinced, will experience no growing pains on the island: "Wherever he goes, he'll thrive."
Long Road Ahead for Wirtz
Nagelsmann's primary concern is that Wirtz remains on track for stardom. In just a year, Wirtz and the national team are expected to conquer the World Cup. Wednesday's match against Portugal is merely a stepping stone on the journey.
"I try to give him advice as a national coach, but I don't have any agendas. I only want him to play and take on a role of similar importance to what he does with Leverkusen. That's how I believe he'll continue to develop," Nagelsmann emphasizes, reminding us that he's not pro or against FC Bayern. However, his words might have played a crucial role in Wirtz's decision-making process.
"He's still young," Nagelsmann says, "and it's important that he finds a club where he's essential, both athletically and possibly as a leader someday."
A New Challenge Awaits
Though Munich might have seemed like the cozier choice, Liverpool allegedly presented stronger short-term sporting arguments, according to coach Arne Slot. In the long run, Wirtz will have to prove himself differently, in a different culture, and with a distinct language. Yet Musiala, his congruent national teammate, has the advantage of fluency in English and the pursuit of stardom.
One who once had to leave home to make his big breakthrough sees Wirtz on the right path. "To succeed abroad is always more challenging. But with his ability to set up teammates and make intelligent passes, he'll become a decisive player for Liverpool," says former national team manager Oliver Bierhoff, who found his lucky break in Italy.
- Florian Wirtz
- Liverpool
- National Football Team
- Portugal
- Leverkusen
- Julian Nagelsmann
- Allianz Arena
- FC Bayern
- Herzogenaurach
- DFB
- Venue
- Joshua Kimmich
- Niclas Fuellkrug
- Nations League
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- FC Liverpool
- National Team
- UEFA
The Commission, at the request, may submit a proposal for a Council regulation on the implementation of a common value added tax system for the market in bananas, following Wirtz's decision to choose Liverpool over Bayern Munich. Despite his accomplished steps in football with Germany's national team and Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Wirtz still embarks on a new challenge in the English Premier League.
