Bayern Munich in Florian Wirtz moan as chief slams Premier League club ‘playing Monopoly

Bayern Munich are still crying over what happened in the summer transfer window. The German giants, the kings of the Bundesliga for more than a decade, thought they could get their hands on one of the brightest young players in European football. They believed that when a German star was available, he should naturally come to Bayern. That has been their way for many years – from Götze to Lewandowski, from Neuer to Kimmich. But this time, something different happened.

Florian Wirtz, the golden boy of German football, the one who carried Bayer Leverkusen on his back and helped them end Bayern’s dominance in Germany, looked at the offers in front of him. Bayern wanted him. Real Madrid were interested. Manchester City were ready to spend. But in the end, Wirtz shocked the Bundesliga and chose Liverpool.

That decision did not just sting Bayern fans – it wounded the pride of their legendary figure Uli Hoeness, who could not hide his anger. He came out and slammed Liverpool and another Premier League club, accusing them of turning football into a game of Monopoly. His words showed the frustration of a club that has been used to getting whatever it wanted inside Germany, only to be humbled by the spending power of England’s top teams.

The story of this transfer is not just about one player leaving Germany. It is about how the balance of power in world football continues to shift. Bayern Munich, a club that always prided itself on stability and discipline, have been made to look like a smaller fish in the ocean compared to Premier League sharks with unlimited resources. And Wirtz, still only 22 years old, is now the centre of attention as he begins his life in England under new Liverpool boss Arne Slot.

The summer deal was massive. Liverpool paid a fee that could rise to £116million, breaking records and making Wirtz one of the most expensive German players of all time. Bayern, according to Hoeness, were never going to go that high. He openly admitted it, saying: “Of course we would have liked to have Florian Wirtz, but we’d never have bought him for €150million.” To him, Bayern are the real winners of the summer because they did not overspend. But that sounded less like confidence and more like consolation.

Liverpool’s capture of Wirtz sent shockwaves across Europe. Many people thought Bayern would find a way to keep him in Germany. Instead, he walked into Anfield, posed with the famous red shirt, and declared his excitement about playing in the Premier League. For Liverpool, it was a statement signing. They had just lost the experience of Thiago Alcântara and wanted someone who could be the heart of their midfield for the next decade.

While Hoeness was moaning, Liverpool fans were celebrating. They saw Wirtz as the type of player who could carry the club into a new era, much like Steven Gerrard once did. His technical brilliance, vision, and calmness on the ball made him the dream midfielder for Arne Slot’s new project.

But Hoeness did not stop at Liverpool. He also took aim at Newcastle United, another club that beat Bayern to a German star. Bayern tried to sign Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart. They offered €55million. Stuttgart wanted €75million. Bayern refused. But then Newcastle arrived, dropped €90million, and walked away with the player. To Hoeness, this was pure madness. He said: “What Newcastle are doing has nothing to do with football. It’s like Monopoly these days.”

Those words highlight the frustration in Germany about the growing financial power of Premier League clubs. Bayern may dominate the Bundesliga, but when it comes to competing with England’s richest teams, they are finding it harder. The days of them being able to pick up German stars cheaply are gone. The market has changed, and Bayern are being forced to watch others take their targets.

Still, Bayern tried to paint their summer as a success. They signed Luis Díaz permanently after his loan. They brought in Jonathan Tah, who was a rock for Leverkusen. They took Nicolas Jackson on loan from Chelsea. And they sold players like Kingsley Coman to Al-Nassr, while Mathys Tel moved to Tottenham. They balanced their books and claimed to be happy. But the truth is, they are bitter.

Because while Bayern speak of balance, Liverpool are dreaming big. Wirtz has already started three Premier League matches since his arrival. He has not yet scored or assisted, but he has shown glimpses of why Liverpool fought so hard to sign him. Speaking before the start of the season, Wirtz said: “I came here to play my best football and because I thought I could fit into this team. I think I am a player who needs freedom on the pitch, and the manager gives it to me. Every time, it is getting a little bit better.”

That freedom is what makes him special. At Leverkusen, he played with joy, breaking down defences, scoring important goals, and assisting with ease. Now, he wants to bring that same creativity to Anfield. The fans are waiting for him to explode, and Arne Slot has already trusted him to start important games.

For Bayern, losing Wirtz was not just about the money. It was about losing the face of German football. They have always believed that when Germany produces a superstar, Bayern will eventually get him. Wirtz broke that tradition. He chose Liverpool instead of staying in the Bundesliga. And that decision has left a wound that will take years to heal.

The contrast between Bayern’s self-control and Liverpool’s ambition is clear. Bayern talk about financial discipline, but Liverpool showed that sometimes, to get the best, you have to go all in. And if Wirtz becomes the superstar Liverpool believe he can be, this deal will be remembered as the one that defined a new era at Anfield.

Uli Hoeness may continue to complain about Monopoly, but the reality is that football has changed. The Premier League is now the centre of money, power, and attraction. Bayern are still huge, but in this battle, they were beaten.

And for Florian Wirtz, the journey is just beginning. The world is watching to see if he can handle the pressure of being Liverpool’s £116million man. He left Germany to chase glory in England, and if he delivers, he will not just be remembered as the player who rejected Bayern – he will be remembered as the one who helped Liverpool write their next great chapter.