Florian Wirtz Liverpool transfer sparks bitter row as Bayer Leverkusen chief hits out

Bayer Leverkusenchief Fernando Carro has hit back at his Borussia Dortmund counterpart after criticising the club for selling Florian Wirtz to Liverpool instead of Bayern Munich.

Wirtz eventually joined Liverpool in a British record £116.5million deal but the player looked destined to join Bundesliga rivals Bayern after his incredible recent seasons that inspired Leverkusen to their first ever league title in 2024.

But the playmaker had a change of heart after speaking with Reds boss Arne Slot as he linked up with the Premier League champions.

Leverkusen's decision to sell to a team in a different league was met with opposition by Dortmund chief Hans-Joachim Watzke, who said the situation was a "real shame" because it made the Bundesliga a weaker division.

"It’s a real shame, especially for the DFL, that a player like Florian Wirtz is leaving the Bundesliga,” Watzke told Kicker. "I wouldn’t have had a problem at all if he had gone to FC Bayern.

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"That would have been better for the Bundesliga. It doesn’t really matter for the national team. He’ll play at the highest level in Liverpool, too.

"He could have worked better with (Jamal) Musiala in Munich, but two such good footballers can find each other anyway."

But Carro said he "didn't understand" how a top German club in Dortmund would want Bayern to get stronger by signing another top player from the Bundesliga - and said by selling to Liverpool it ensured the division remained more competitive.

"Honestly, yes. I have a different opinion than Hans-Joachim Watzke,” Sarro said, speaking to Welt am Sonntag. "I don’t understand how he, as the boss of Borussia Dortmund, could have been happy if Wirtz had gone to Munich.

"That would have made Bayern even stronger. I want an exciting Bundesliga. I’m happy when more clubs – besides us – make life difficult for Bayern, because I believe that benefits the Bundesliga."

It comes after the player's father - also called Hans-Joachim - revealed how Slot convinced Wirtz to join Liverpool after laying out his vision to the youngster and explaining how he would fit into his tactical set-up at Anfield.

"Arne Slot presented his playing philosophy, the team tactics in possession and pressing, and how Florian can develop his strengths in these areas," he said.

"This made a decisive impression on Florian. The training conditions in Liverpool were also totally impressive."

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