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Bayer Leverkusen would like Florian Wirtz to return to Germany next week in order to say goodbye to its fans. With the 22-year-old's record-breaking move going through during the off-season, supporters have not yet had the chance to wave him off.
According to the German outlet Sport, Bayer Leverkusen will ask Liverpool to release Wirtz the day after the Reds take on Athletic Bilbao so he can fly back and thank his previous club during its pre-season friendly against Pisa. The Bundesliga side is continuing preparations for the new season under new head coach Erik ten Hag.
Wirtz moved to Liverpool for a fee of around $155 million (£116 million), including add-ons, earlier this summer. The Reds had never paid more than $115 million (£85 million) previously.
"I spoke to Florian Wirtz and he told me that the Bundesliga is very intense, similar to the Premier League, that it was very physical, and the stadiums are always full," Luis Diaz, who moved from Liverpool to Bayern Munich this week, said during his unveiling.
"He also told me that Munich is a very nice city and that I'd enjoy it. He wished me luck, and I thank him for that."
"I feel very happy and very proud," Wirtz told the official Liverpool website when he was introduced to Reds fans for the first time. "Finally, it’s done and I was waiting for a long time — finally it’s done and I am really happy.
"I'm really excited to have a new adventure in front of me. This was also a big point of my thoughts: that I want to have something completely new, to go out of the Bundesliga and to join the Premier League.
"I will see how I can perform there. I hope I can do my best. I spoke also with some players who played there and they told me that it’s perfect for me and every pitch is perfect, you can enjoy every game. I’m really looking forward to playing my first game."
Wirtz made his first appearance in public for Liverpool on tour in Asia, starting against AC Milan. A few days later, he scored his first goal for the club in the victory over Yokohama Marinos.
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"Arne Slot presented his playing philosophy, the team tactics in possession and pressing, and how Florian can develop his strengths in these areas," his father, Hans, revealed recently.
"This made a decisive impression on Florian. The training conditions in Liverpool were also totally impressive.
"Arne Slot has impressed Florian on the pitch. He's also a very pleasant person. Florian's best coaches have always been those who gave him plenty of freedom."
Liverpool.com says: Wirtz looks perfectly set up to be a huge success at Anfield. He is going to look great in the new Adidas jerseys too, which were unveiled earlier today.
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