Bayern Munich's board member Max Eberl has publicly confirmed the German giants' determined pursuit of Florian Wirtz last summer, revealing extensive transfer discussions that ultimately saw the attacking midfielder choose Liverpool instead.
The Transfer That Got Away
In a candid interview with German publication Bild, Eberl laid bare Bayern's interest in the Germany international, who eventually completed a blockbuster move to Anfield. Liverpool secured Wirtz's signature for an initial £100 million, with potential add-ons taking the total package to £116 million.
Despite the substantial investment, the 22-year-old has experienced a challenging start to his Premier League career. Wirtz has yet to score for Liverpool and has registered only three assists across all competitions. Two of those assists came in a single impressive Champions League performance against Eintracht Frankfurt, where Liverpool secured a commanding 5-1 victory.
Bayern's Transparent Approach
Eberl emphasized Bayern's straightforward approach during negotiations. "We made it clear in all our discussions that we would have loved to have him at FC Bayern and that he would have been a great fit for us," the Bayern chief stated.
He added: "Florian then chose Liverpool. I wish him all the best in representing German football in the Premier League."
The transfer talks even extended to discussing squad numbers, a significant consideration for professional players. When questioned about whether Bayern had promised Wirtz the coveted number ten jersey - which he now wears at Liverpool - Eberl acknowledged the complexity of the situation.
"Shirt numbers are an important topic for players," Eberl explained. "We were completely transparent about that as well," he admitted, referencing potential conflicts with promises made to existing Bayern star Jamal Musiala following Leroy Sané's departure.
Mixed Reactions Across Germany
Bayern's former chief executive, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, expressed stronger sentiments about Wirtz's career choice when speaking to Welt last month. "I have to be honest, I still feel sorry for Florian Wirtz because I believe he would have been better off at Bayern Munich than at Liverpool," Rummenigge stated bluntly.
However, Wirtz retains support from his former manager Peter Bosz, the coach who gave him his professional debut at Bayer Leverkusen. Now managing PSV, Bosz told TNT Sports he remains confident Wirtz will succeed in English football.
"I'm sure, I'm really sure, because he is intelligent," Bosz asserted. "Those players, they always find the solutions to what they have to do, where they have to progress and how to protect themselves and be able to play in the Premier League, so I'm confident he will succeed."
Reflecting on their time together at Leverkusen, Bosz described Wirtz as "the biggest talent I have ever seen" and praised his technical perfection, intelligence, and strong mentality.
Despite missing out on both Wirtz and another target, Nick Woltemade - who joined Newcastle United - Eberl maintained that Bayern remains satisfied with their summer business. "No matter what the debates surrounding us were like: We were always convinced of what we did," he concluded.
