Florian Wirtz beforehand drew comparisons to Lionel Messi by his ex-manager Xabi Alonso, who helped oversee his growth at Bayer Leverkusen.
Liverpool have submitted a second provide to safe the 22-year-old’s signature, tabling a bid value as much as £109 million as they push ahead with making an early assertion signing.
The German worldwide favours a transfer to Anfield and with the membership assured of placing a cope with Leverkusen, it is just a matter of time earlier than his arrival is predicted to be introduced.
With that in thoughts, it is going to be of curiosity to many who might not have commonly seen Wirtz stay in motion to listen to how ex-Pink and now Actual Madrid supervisor Alonso views the playmaker.
Alonso and Wirtz labored collectively from October 2022 till the tip of the present season, and he stated in a press convention earlier this month: “Flo is without doubt one of the prime gamers on the earth.
“He’s world-class. Flo has a really mature thoughts. The individuals round him, his dad and mom, they need the very best for him.
“They’re in a vital second of his profession. No matter he does, I’m actually near Flo, and I might be comfortable for him.”
In early 2023, Alonso even drew comparisons to Lionel Messi when discussing Wirtz and what makes him a particular expertise – the German was solely 19 on the time.
“There are good gamers and there are gamers who look good on the pitch,” Alonso stated. “The participant who appears good does issues which might be good, however not essentially environment friendly.
“Why is Messi so good? As a result of he is aware of how and when to play easy passes. Messi says: ‘You’re in a greater place? Right here, there you’ve the ball!’
“It’s not at all times about making probably the most good transfer, however the very best and smartest. Florian can do this. That’s why he’s so good.”
Spectacular, proper?
Wirtz is “unbelievably clever”
One other who has watched Wirtz’s growth intently is Leverkusen’s former government CEO assistant, Devin Ozek, who advised Sky Sports activities: “He’s an unbelievably clever participant, to grasp areas between the traces, creating probabilities, a sophisticated playmaker.
“But when we discuss Florian Wirtz, we now have to offer quite a lot of credit score to [Leverkusen director of sport] Simon Rolfes, as a result of he did an enormous job in signing him.
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“He believed from the primary second in him and in addition [chief executive] Fernando Carro, each are answerable for this signing.
“And for me, it’s top-of-the-line signings within the Bundesliga historical past. He’s within the prime class.”
Liverpool will hope that can lengthen to top-of-the-line signings in Premier League historical past quickly sufficient.
