Hoeneß questions Liverpool’s handling of Florian Wirtz

A rising talent under scrutiny

Florian Wirtz, one of Germany’s most highly rated young footballers, joined Liverpool after a standout period at Bayer Leverkusen. In Germany he had become known as an unusually creative midfielder who frequently dictated attacking play, often acting as the link between defense and forwards. His development had been followed closely because many saw him as a central figure in the national team’s future.

For readers less familiar with the European football landscape, moving from Leverkusen to Liverpool represents not only a change in league but also a significant leap in pressure, financial expectations, and global visibility. Liverpool is one of the most watched clubs in the world, and new signings are often expected to deliver immediately.

Hoeneß voices concern

Speaking with the German sports agency SID, Bayern’s honorary president Uli Hoeneß expressed unease about how the midfielder has been integrated into his new team. He argued that Wirtz had enjoyed a central role in Leverkusen’s possession and buildup play, but that his involvement in England appears far more restricted.

“Everything went through him in Leverkusen. In Liverpool, he gets five passes in a half, and if he loses the ball twice, he gets a bad rating…”, Hoeneß told SID. He suggested that the shift in responsibility and rhythm has made the transition more difficult than expected for the 21 year old.

Read also: What this Premier League weekend really told us

Questions about earlier assurances

Additional reporting shared by journalist Fabrizio Romano on X captured Hoeneß’s frustration with what he believed Wirtz had been promised during negotiations. According to Romano’s summary of the SID interview, Hoeneß argued that Liverpool manager Arne Slot had presented a vision in which Wirtz would become a focal point of a newly built team.

“Slot promised Wirtz something that he is now clearly not keeping, build new team around him with no10 shirt. That was rubbish”, Hoeneß told SID, as quoted by Romano. Instead, Wirtz received the number 7 shirt. Hoeneß described the detail not as a matter of prestige but as evidence that the team was not structured around the young playmaker in the way he had expected.

A broader debate in German football

Hoeneß’s comments feed into a recurring discussion in Germany about how young Bundesliga players adapt when moving to major Premier League clubs. The pace of the English league, the tactical systems used by different managers, and the intense scrutiny from fans and media can require a period of adaptation that does not always align with the expectations set before a transfer.

For some analysts in Germany, the situation surrounding Wirtz has become an example of how carefully negotiated roles may clash with the realities inside elite English clubs, where competition for playing time and tactical compatibility often determine a player’s impact more than pre transfer expectations.

Read also: Xavi Simons waits for his Premier League breakthrough

Read also: Paige Spiranac addresses $1m golf rules controversy after wave of online abuse