Can afford any transfer we want’ – Why Bayern Munich didn’t battle Liverpool for £116m Florian Wirtz transfer after seeing German playmaker struggle in England

When Liverpool announced the signing of Florian Wirtz in the summer, the football world stopped for a second. A £116 million transfer — a new British record. The kind of deal that shakes every corner of European football. From the buzzing city of Liverpool to the calm streets of Munich, everyone wanted to understand how the 21-year-old German playmaker who had set the Bundesliga on fire at Bayer Leverkusen became the latest gem in Anfield’s crown. But now, just a few months later, the same story that started with fireworks and dreams has turned into questions, frustration, and cold stares from the stands.

Florian Wirtz was supposed to be the new face of Liverpool’s future under Arne Slot, the Dutch manager who took over from Jurgen Klopp. He was expected to bring creativity, vision, and the magic touch that made him a Bundesliga sensation. At Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz was a boy who played like a veteran — fearless, confident, and full of imagination. Every touch seemed to have meaning, every assist carried artistry. He wasn’t just another attacking midfielder; he was seen as Germany’s next great hope.

But since his £116m move to the Premier League, life has not gone as expected. Liverpool fans, used to seeing instant impact from big-money signings, are beginning to grow restless. In ten appearances across all competitions, Wirtz has only managed one assist. No goals, no trademark runs, no game-changing moments — just frustration and flashes of talent that disappear as quickly as they appear.

For Wirtz, the Premier League has been a new kind of jungle. Faster, more physical, and brutally demanding. At Leverkusen, he had time to think, space to play, and a system built around his rhythm. But in England, he’s found himself trapped in chaos — the pressing, the speed, the endless intensity. Every time he touches the ball, two or three opponents close in. Every time he tries to create, the defenders smash into him with no mercy.

Arne Slot, who believed Wirtz would unlock Liverpool’s next era of creativity, is now facing a dilemma. The pressure from fans and pundits grows heavier with every game. Against Chelsea, in one of the biggest Premier League clashes of the season, Slot made the bold call to drop Wirtz from the starting lineup. For a £116m player, it was a statement. The German sat quietly on the bench, watching as his teammates fought through another difficult game.

At halftime, with the match still hanging in the balance, Slot decided to send him in. Wirtz replaced Conor Bradley at the start of the second half. The crowd roared as his name echoed through the stadium. Maybe this was his chance to change the story. Maybe this was the moment he would silence his critics. But the spark never truly came. He tried — dribbles, passes, one-twos — but the game slipped away. Liverpool lost again, their third straight defeat after a perfect start to the season.

From seven straight wins to three painful losses — against Crystal Palace, Chelsea, and Galatasaray. Suddenly, the team that looked unstoppable is in crisis. And in the middle of it stands Florian Wirtz, the £116m signing who hasn’t yet found his rhythm.

Meanwhile, far away in Munich, Bayern’s CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen gave a statement that sent quiet ripples across Europe. Speaking to BILD, he didn’t hold back. “We can afford any transfer we want,” he said calmly. “We have an excellent capital ratio. FC Bayern is doing very well. But we want to be able to pay a player — without having to run to the bank. That’s not FC Bayern’s DNA.”

Those words weren’t just business talk. They were a message. A statement of pride. And maybe, just maybe, a little dig at Liverpool. Bayern Munich, after all, were one of the clubs linked with Wirtz before his move to England. Alongside Manchester City, they had been monitoring him closely for years. But when the bidding war began, Bayern quietly stepped aside.

Now we know why. Dreesen explained that the financial landscape in football has shifted dramatically. “The bottom team in the English league, at €125 million, has €60 million more in media revenue than us. Liverpool has €200 million, while FC Barcelona and Real Madrid each have €160 million,” he said. In other words, Bayern could afford Wirtz, but they refused to join the spending madness.

It’s a reflection of two football worlds — one driven by tradition and balance, the other powered by television money and global reach. The Premier League has become the land of wealth, where even mid-table clubs can outbid European giants. Bayern Munich, for all their history and trophies, cannot compete financially with English clubs. But they can compete in stability, planning, and identity.

Inside Bayern, many saw Wirtz’s Liverpool move as a risky step. The Premier League is brutal for creative players coming from the Bundesliga. Kai Havertz learned it at Chelsea. Timo Werner learned it the hard way. And now, Wirtz is facing the same storm. The rhythm, the pressure, the expectation — it breaks even the most talented players if they are not prepared.

At Leverkusen, Wirtz had Xabi Alonso guiding him, a calm environment, and teammates who understood his movement. At Liverpool, he entered a dressing room still adjusting to life after Klopp, with a new manager, new tactics, and high tension. It was never going to be easy.

Liverpool believed Wirtz could be the new Coutinho — a magician who could unlock defenses with one touch. But the weight of the price tag has turned into a burden. Every misplaced pass now feels like a headline. Every quiet performance feels like proof of failure. For a 21-year-old, that kind of pressure can be suffocating.

In Germany, fans still believe in him. They’ve seen what he can do. But they also understand how English football can chew up creativity and spit it out. When asked about Wirtz’s move earlier this year, several Bayern legends hinted that he might have been better off staying in the Bundesliga for one more season. “England is not kind to young talents,” one of them said. “You have to be physically ready and mentally unshakable. The Premier League doesn’t wait for anyone.”

Still, Wirtz’s story is far from over. Great players often start slowly in new environments. Even Mohamed Salah had a difficult beginning at Chelsea before returning to England as one of the best in the world. Kevin De Bruyne went through the same. Sometimes failure is just the first chapter of something special.

Liverpool fans know this too. They’ve seen comebacks, they’ve lived through heartbreaks. Anfield is not just a stadium — it’s a place that can lift broken players and turn them into legends. If Wirtz can rediscover his magic, the same crowd that questions him today will sing his name tomorrow.

For now, Arne Slot is trying to protect him. The Dutchman understands how dangerous early criticism can be for a young player in a new league. In training, Slot continues to give him time, patience, and confidence. “Florian will come good,” he reportedly told the players after the Chelsea defeat. “He has too much talent not to.”

But football is cruel. Patience is rare. Liverpool’s recent form has raised alarms. After the international break, they will face Manchester United at Anfield — a match that could define their season. The tension will be enormous, and Slot knows that every decision he makes will be questioned. Will he trust Wirtz again? Or will he bench him once more to protect him from the pressure?

Meanwhile, in Munich, Bayern continue their own journey — calm, steady, and proud. They might not have spent £116m on one player, but they remain one of the most consistent clubs in Europe. Dreesen’s comments reflect a philosophy built over decades. For Bayern, football is not about outspending rivals; it’s about outsmarting them.

And yet, deep down, they are watching. They are watching Wirtz’s story unfold with mixed emotions — pride that one of their own German talents made such a huge move, but relief that they didn’t make the same gamble. Because for Bayern, image matters, but stability matters more.

In truth, Bayern didn’t walk away from Wirtz because they couldn’t afford him. They walked away because they didn’t want to pay a price that could disturb their balance. In Germany, the club belongs to its members — the fans, the community. They can afford any transfer, as Dreesen said, but not at the cost of their principles.

That’s the difference between Bayern Munich and the Premier League giants. In England, football is business first and passion later. In Germany, it’s still the other way around. And that’s why Wirtz’s story is more than just about a struggling player — it’s about two worlds colliding.

Back at Anfield, Wirtz continues to train hard. He stays behind after sessions, working on his finishing and physicality. He knows the expectations. He knows Liverpool didn’t spend £116m for patience — they spent it for performance. But he also knows that every great story takes time. The young German still dreams of being the man who brings joy back to the Kop, the player who can make Arne Slot’s football shine.

For now, though, he walks a lonely road — between hope and pressure, between potential and doubt. Every touch is watched. Every mistake is amplified. But maybe, just maybe, the storm he is facing now is preparing him for greatness later.

When Jan-Christian Dreesen said Bayern could afford any transfer they wanted, he wasn’t bragging. He was reminding everyone that money doesn’t always buy success. Sometimes, patience and philosophy do. Liverpool may have won the race for Wirtz, but Bayern may have won in wisdom.

Still, football has a funny way of changing stories. One goal, one assist, one magical night — and everything could flip. Wirtz could become the hero Anfield is waiting for. Because talent like his doesn’t just disappear. It sleeps. It waits.

And when it wakes up, the same people doubting him today will say they always believed. That’s football — cruel, dramatic, unpredictable, and beautiful. Florian Wirtz is learning that lesson in the hardest league in the world. And maybe, just maybe, this pain is what will turn him into the star everyone believed he could be.