Having started well at his new club, the German midfielder Florian Wirtz is steadily growing more confident.
A footballer’s transfer always sparks big discussions, especially when the transfer fee is hefty. In Wirtz’s case, the talk around his £100 million move to Liverpool has been intense. However, the German midfielder has made it clear that he does not feel any added pressure because of the big price tag.
Liverpool is not usually known for splashing big money in the transfer market. But this time, the club has already spent over £300 million strengthening their squad. To sign Wirtz, who was outstanding at Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool parted with a significant sum — a base fee of £100 million plus potential bonuses that could add another £16 million.
This makes Wirtz the most expensive player in Liverpool’s history. Naturally, expectations from both the club and the coach will be high.
During preseason preparations, Wirtz started in the friendly against Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday, which Liverpool won 3-2. After the match, he expressed hope that neither the large transfer fee nor the sky-high expectations would negatively affect his performances.
He said, “I don’t really feel like it (will create pressure).”
“I just want to play football. How much money the two clubs exchanged doesn’t matter to me.”
Wirtz has already shown his abilities in the friendly matches. Last week, he scored his first goal in a Liverpool shirt in the 3-1 win over Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos. He also delivered a strong performance against Bilbao in the latest game.
Having quickly adapted to his new teammates and contributing well to the team, the 22-year-old is gaining more confidence by the day.
He said, “I am really enjoying my first few weeks at Liverpool… It feels good. This is why I came here — because I can fit into this team. I enjoy playing with these players. Everything is getting better by the moment. I am happy with how things are progressing.”
