Bayer Leverkusen’s sports director Simon Rolfes looks satisfied with the alternation of soccer player Florian Wirtz to Liverpool FC.
“In the end we are all happy with the transfer: Florian with his decision, we with the whole package,” said the 43-year-old in an interview with the Cologne Stadt-Anzeiger (Tuesday edition).
In mid -June, the up to 150 million euro switch from Wirtz to Anfield Road had been finalized after months of speculation. Rolfes would have liked Wirtz “to keep for many years. However, it is understandable that he wanted to take the next step into the absolute top of the world”. He was “proud” that the “world star” had run for five and a half years for Leverkusen.
For a long time, the 22-year-old’s contract extension had also been in the room, but in the spring, according to Rolfes, it became clear that Wirtz was not to be kept. After that, the media reports overturned, but: “It was much quieter internally than it made the impression, especially in the national press,” said the sports director.
For Wirtz it is “the right thing to go abroad”. In Liverpool, he has to “prove himself in a different environment, in another culture, has the chance to develop as a personality and as a player,” emphasized Rolfes.
In addition to Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and especially coach Xabi Alonso left the 2024 doubles winner. Nevertheless, Rolfes remains optimistic: “We want to radiate the greed of the past few years, then I am sure that we will continue to celebrate success in the future.”