Bayern Munich chief Uli Hoeness has spoken out on the Bundesliga giants being beaten to the signing of Florian Wirtz by Liverpool as he slammed a Premier League club for ‘playing Monopoly’
Bayern Munich chief Uli Hoeness maintains the summer transfer window proved successful for the Bavarian giants despite losing out on Florian Wirtz to Liverpool.
The Germany ace sealed a switch to the Premier League champions in a then record-breaking deal potentially worth £116million, after both Bayern, Manchester City and Real Madrid had explored moves for the talented midfielder earlier in the window. Wirtz had attracted interest with his stellar displays for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
Whilst Hoeness acknowledged Bayern’s admiration for the 22-year-old, he revealed they were outgunned financially by Liverpool’s considerable spending clout and has now moaned about both Liverpool and another Premier League club’s spending this summer. Hoeness told German media (via the Echo): “We’re very satisfied at FC Bayern.
“We are the real winners of the summer transfer window. We have a strong team and didn’t need to strengthen it much. Of course, we would have liked to have Florian Wirtz, but we’d never have bought him for €150million (£130million).”
Liverpool weren’t the only club to beat Bayern for a summer target. Wirtz’s Germany team-mate Nick Woltemade ended up at Newcastle despite earlier suggestions he would head to the Allianz Arena, with Hoeness launching a scathing attack on the Magpies after they blew Bayern’s offer out of the water.
He added: “We offered €55m (£47.7m) for Nick Woltemade, while Stuttgart wanted €75m (£65m). In the end, he went to Newcastle for €90m (£78m).
“What Newcastle are doing has nothing to do with football. It’s like Monopoly these days.”
Despite missing out on Wirtz, Bayern made several senior signings during the summer window. Luis Diaz and Jonathan Tah joined permanently, while Nicolas Jackson has arrived on loan from Chelsea.
Vincent Kompany’s side spent around £75m on their permanent and loan deals, while recouping a similar sum through sales. Mathys Tel joined Tottenham permanently after a spell on loan, while Kingsley Coman’s move to Al-Nassr was another high-profile departure.
Wirtz has started all three of Liverpool’s Premier League games since his summer move and is still waiting to deliver his first goal or assist, but he’s relishing the freedom given to him by Arne Slot. “I came here to play my best football and because I thought I could fit into this team,” he said before the start of the new season.
“I’m really enjoying my first few weeks. I’m enjoying playing with these players. It’s getting a little bit better every time and I’m happy about how it’s going.
“I think I’m a player who needs freedom on the pitch, and the manager gives it to me. Of course, I have to respect the position I’m in and the players around me, but I try to give my best on the pitch and find the right places, and I have the freedom for this here.”
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