Undoubtedly the transfer of the German jewel Florian Wirtz is recently the most controversial topic throughout the international football community. Unfortunately, in the last decade, endless accompanying rumors to any mega-transfer have become a trend; and Wirtz transfer has not been an exception. Daily contradictory rumors were invading all types of football media. Morning, one reads that Wirtz will stay at Bayer Leverkusen for an additional season, at noon Wirtz decides to join Bayern Munich while afternoon media confirm negotiations with Manchester City and Liverpool, besides Real Madrid’s interest.
While in the last couple of days Bayern Munich fans were rubbing their hands to see the 22 years old training at the Säbener Straße, and this according to several sources even close to the narrow circle of the Bavarian giant, the worldwide mercato followers have been completely surprised being told that they will see Florian Wirtz from season 25-26 playing at Anfield Road.
From the ‘’Roten’’ to the ‘’Reds’’, this report is listing the different factors that have led the English champions to beat the German champions and bring the German international midfielder to the heart of the city of Liverpool.
Factor 1: EPL vs BL
It is neither a secret nor a surprise anymore that the English Premier League competition is leading by far all the other top European leagues on financial, medial and technical quality levels such that it has become an attractive target, even a dream for any talented ambitious player. With the frequent number of challenging teams (i.e. Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, …) winning the EPL title for any player is not less than winning the Champions League title. On the other side, winning the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich is not that challenging due to the remarkable gap with the rest of the German clubs. Bundesliga clubs are not other than ‘’stars factories’’ who sell all their weapon stars to the elite EPL clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Furthermore, Florian Wirtz has already won the national doublet with Leverkusen last season. Any further motivation to play with Bayern?
Factor 2: Liverpool determination vs Bayern randomness
Bayern Munich has been famous throughout his football history for his robust, consistent, severe and determined management board and this has been the backbone of the club’s victories. Surprisingly, this has not been anymore the case since the end of Pep Guardiola’s era in 2016. A close look on the managerial and technical board of the club shows a complete loss of hierarchy, overlap of tasks between many members of the board, contradictory statements about many critical topics, long list of members and coaches hired and then sacked within short period of time. The pronounced example to this non-consistency is the list of 10 coaches who have refused to be recruited at Bayern in summer 2024 (because they are not seeing any serious plan for the future and also feeling uncomfortable with no power in hand); Vincent Kompany has been selected without any vision to the future; it is just upon the advice of the club’s ‘’friend’’ Pep Guardiola. One may also mention the big number of talents ‘’distributed’’ throughout European clubs as loanees without any future horizons in the club. Contrarily, by observing the increasing curve in Liverpool (at least since the arrival of Jürgen Klopp as head coach in 2015) one may deduce easily the managerial, financial and technical stability in the board of the club, respected hierarchy, targeted and well selected signings, robust infrastructure of training centers, clear policy towards talented teenagers. It will not cost more than a simple comparison for Wirtz to opt playing for Liverpool.
Factor 3: Richard Hughes vs Uli Höneß
Should everything have been normal in Bayern Munich, the confrontation would have been with the sporting director Max Eberl and not with the honorary president Uli Höneß. Since the hierarchy is completely lost in the Bavarian club, all key decisions are still held by Uli Höneß who has been negotiating in person with Wirtz’s parents, sidelining the role of Eberl and also the head coach Vincent Kompany. The question is: how was he negotiating? Looking at the managerial instability mentioned in the previous factor, it is clear that the 73 years old man who has ‘’reigned’’ at Bayern for many decades is completely unable to follow-up modern rules governing football and to notice the substantial and quick evolution that has occurred to this type of sport especially in the last 15 years. Höneß is still using all his old tools and outdated strategies to manage the club. He is still thinking that Bayern Munich is the dream of any German player. Obviously, this would never apply to the new generations of players who are seeking improvement, challenges and sport achievements; all those are unreachable without a complete and consistent strategy established by modern managing board led by the 46 years old Richard Hughes, the sporting director of Liverpool. The long run plan set by the club is more convincing for the ambitious Wirtz.
Factor 4: Arne Slot vs Vincent Kompany
Many reports have mentioned Wirtz’s direct meeting with both Liverpool and Bayern Munich coaches to discuss technical matters, above all his role in both squads. Those reports have confirmed that Arne Slot, with his leadership and charisma, was very convincing for Wirtz; the German international will play at his preferred and natural position: the position 10; from technical perspective Liverpool is lacking a world class player in this position and they are planning to fill it with Wirtz if they want to compete in the Champions League. On the other side, it was never clear the reason behind which Bayern Munich is interested in Wirtz since Jamal Musiala will occupy this position till 2030; the reason has been just to add a new German super star player to the squad without any technical and tactical plan. Vincent Kompany has not been able to convince Wirtz technically and tactically about his role on the pitch (all in all it was the decision of Höneß to sign Wirtz without discussing with Kompany and Eberl); the positions conflict with Musiala is a burden on Komapny’s shoulders. Wirtz will never accept to play as left winger.
Factor 5: Liverpool squad vs Bayern squad
The comparison of squads is carried out here from building and planning point of view only. Nobody may doubt the individual skills of Bayern Munich players. Liverpool’s board is certainly relying on statistical data of each player they are targeting to sign; the selection is just based on the squad needs and the performance to be brought by the player to the squad; this occurs certainly after discussions with the head coach. Neither the player’s nationality nor his personal relationships with other members in the club do play a role. One may thus clearly see that the structure and the building method of the team is well studied and well planned. On the other side, many examples can be given form the actual Bayern squad pointing out the structural defects from which the squad is suffering, starting from the absence of a back-up for Harry Kane, moving to the non-existence of a true right back (position filled by the midfielder Laimer for the entire season), arriving to the poor quality of several players (such as Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry on the left wing and Leon Goretzka in the midfield) who are kept in the squad just thanks to their good relationship with the honorary president. All this atmosphere will not motivate a superstar like Florian Wirtz to risk his golden coming years without any achievements, being a part of a randomly built squad.
In conclusion, the club who has worked, planned and invested for several years has picked up the fruits of his efforts. Bayern Munich who has observed Florian Wirtz for ten years growing and improving in German stadiums are now watching Liverpool and within only ten days bringing him to Anfield and planning with him for their long term project.
Football rewards hard-workers!
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