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Florian Wirtz delivered a pretty emphatic rebuttal when suggestions emerged that he was demanding the number 10 shirt ahead of his summer switch to Liverpool. The Reds secured the Germany international's signature from Bayer Leverkusen in a big-money deal.
Given the number 58 shirt temporarily during pre-season, he subsequently took on the number seven jersey after Luis Diaz's departure to Bayern Munich. Liverpool supporters will know full well that the club's number seven shirt holds special significance. Yet speculation surrounding the number 10 jersey has continued to rumble on in Germany.
When initial reports claimed Wirtz was pushing for the number 10 shirt despite it already belonging to Alexis Mac Allister, Wirtz turned to Instagram to dismiss the suggestion.
"Who says I want the [ten emoji] I respect players," he posted on his Instagram story. "Don't believe everything what's written [clown emoji]."
Both Wirtz and Mac Allister subsequently featured in an advert for the Google Pixel 10 phone, offering a playful response to the speculation whilst promoting one of Liverpool's sponsors back in August.
"I know there's been some rumours about Flo wanting the number 10," Mac Allister said into a Google Pixel 10 phone before approaching Wirtz at the AXA Training Centre. "But I want to tell you all the truth.
"Flo! This is the number 10 you wanted, right? Google Pixel 10. "Thank you, Macca. Nice one!" responded the German after being handed the phone, before the duo then snapped a selfie.
However, four months later and the issue over the number 10 shirt has resurfaced. This time, it's the top brass at Bayern Munich stirring the pot, having seen Wirtz reject their advances to sign for Liverpool initially.
Earlier this month, Uli Hoeness, honorary president of the Bavarians, alleged that Arne Slot had reneged on a promise to Wirtz by not giving him the number 10 shirt, insinuating that it was a key factor in his decision to turn down the Bundesliga giants.
"Slot promised Wirtz something that he's now clearly not keeping," he stated. "Building the new team around him with the number 10 shirt. That was rubbish.
"He got the number seven shirt and the new team is clearly not playing around Florian Wirtz. I feel terribly sorry for Florian Wirtz. Everything went through him in Leverkusen. In Liverpool, he gets five passes in a half and if he loses the ball twice, he gets a bad rating."
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In the meantime, Max Eberl, Bayern Munich's director of sport, has once again commented on Wirtz's decision to snub the Bavarians after it was suggested that the player had wanted the number 10 shirt at the Allianz Arena despite it being promised to Jamal Musiala.
"Shirt numbers are an important topic for players," Eberl told Bild, as quoted by Bavarian Football Works. "We were completely transparent about that (Musiala getting the Bayern number 10 shirt) as well.
"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.
"Florian then chose Liverpool. I wish him all the best in representing German football in the Premier League."
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