Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz open to playing elsewhere

LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz says he’d like to play for another club sometime.

"I'm certainly eager to step out of my comfort zone at some stage and explore something novel," Wirtz stated. Sports Illustrated interview published on Thursday. “I know the football locker rooms well enough and am convinced I would quickly fit in anywhere.”

The 22-year-old Wirtz has a contract with Leverkusen to 2027 but has been linked with a potential move to league rival Bayern Munich, Premier League side Manchester City, and Spanish giant Real Madrid.

Bayern Munich executive Uli Hoeneß has expressed his desire to sign Wirtz, however, the cash-strapped club may struggle with the financial demands of Bayer Leverkusen due to the high cost associated with acquiring this highly sought-after talent. Often hailed as one of the top players in Germany, securing him would be quite an investment.

Manchester City wouldn’t face such limitations when searching for a replacement for the outgoing Kevin De Bruyne. Similarly, Real Madrid wouldn’t be constrained if they aimed to sign a "Galáctico" like Xabi Alonso, should he leave Bayer Leverkusen to potentially replace Carlo Ancelotti as manager of the Spanish side.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have numerous fantastic clubs right at my fingertips and to now be playing for one of the premier teams in both Germany and Europe," Wirtz stated. "I hold deep admiration for the players here in Leverkusen who hail from places like South America or Africa and who must leave their loved ones and familiar environments behind for the sake of their professional journeys.

When Wirtz was just 16 years old, he transferred to Bayer Leverkusen from their local rivals, FC Köln, in January 2020. Half a year after joining the club, he made history as the youngest player ever to find the back of the net in the Bundesliga. 17 years, 34 days , even though that record was later taken by Youssoufa Moukoko of Borussia Dortmund.

"When I moved from Cologne to Leverkusen, I never gave a thought to my paycheck; I was solely focused on what would be most beneficial for my career," stated Wirtz, expressing gratitude towards his parents for their backing. He added that he doesn't dwell on the balance of his bank account or consider potential earnings down the line.

“They taught me to have a lifestyle that’s good for me, and not to neglect school. My parents played a big part in me becoming a professional soccer player. They were at every game, and my mother was even at every training session. I can count myself very lucky to have such a family,” Wirtz said.

Wirtz’s senior sibling, Juliane Wirtz, competes for theWerder Bremen women’s squad.

Florian Wirtz has netted 10 goals and provided an additional 12 assists in the Bundesliga this season.

He has scored six goals in 29 matches for Germany.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

The Associated Press

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