2 months ago
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Florian Wirtz has been told he would be "better off" at Bayern Munich despite rejecting the Bundesliga champions this past summer.
The 22-year-old opted to sign for Liverpool in a deal worth $156million, including add-ons, after turning down overtures from the German giants. While the Premier League champions have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season, with five wins out five, it hasn't been the easiest start to life in England for Wirtz.
The attacking midfielder has yet to score or assist this season and while his performances don't wholly reflect his lack of end product thus far, it has been a learning curve for the Germany international.
It was no doubt a bold move to reject the biggest club in his homeland and opt for a new adventure at his tender age but according to Bayern icon Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, it was the wrong move to make.
The former two-time Ballon d'Or winner is part of the club's supervisory board which oversees transfers and contracts. Speaking with Sport Bild, the 69-year-old said missing out on Wirtz "still hurts".
"I have to say honestly, in the case of Florian Wirtz, it still hurts, because I believe the player would have been better off at Bayern than at Liverpool. We could have signed Woltemade. But I also have to say: Bayern Munich are wise enough not to engage in every kind of financial madness.
"I’ve always said, 'We want to achieve sporting success, but please, in a serious and financially sound way. We have a top team, this year as well. And when the three players who are currently injured come back soon, then we’ll have a great team.'"
Wirtz himself has voiced his frustration that he's yet to open his account for the Reds but admitted he remains cool that his first goal for the club will come soon.
In conversation with Sky Germany, he said: "Yes, of course I would have liked to have scored a goal or collected a few [goals and assists]," Wirtz said. "But no matter what anyone says, I’m staying cool. I know what I’m capable of, and I also know that I’ll really bring it onto the pitch at some point, so I’m just staying cool. That’s a good reminder.
"I don’t want to hear it all the time, 'Give him time, give him time'. Instead, I just try to do better each time than before. Sometimes there are just phases where things might not go your way. I haven’t had that very often in my career.
"Once I have gotten through it — that’s perhaps harsh, because I am not playing badly, I just haven’t got the scoring points yet — it will come at some point, and then everything will be fine.
"It’s no secret that I would like to have more so far, but I am patient, and as I just said, I know full well that I can play good football. Sooner or later, I am sure that things will return to normal."
Wirtz was one of several first-team stars rested against Southampton as he's likely to return to the starting line-up in the Reds' trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
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