National football team: In the middle of the million dollar poker: Munich game for Wirtz

Munich. For Florian Wirtz there could not be a more piquant venue than the Allianz Arena on his first appearance after the cancellation to FC Bayern. However, in the semi-finals of the Nations League against Portugal, the 23-year-old should not distract the decision against a transfer to the German football record champions or the ever hotter millions of Bayer Leverkusen with Liverpool.

“As a player of the national team, it is primarily important to me that he makes a good decision for himself. Regardless of where to go for him, I hope that it is the right way for him,” said captain Joshua Kimmich against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portuguese before the start of the DFB selection on Wednesday (9:00 p.m./ZDF/ZDF/DAZN).

Nobody needs transfer storms at the DFB team. 100, 130, 150 million euros – with this transfer fee spiral, you could get dizzy. But something has just changed with the 22-year-old Wirtz.

First there was the look with the narrow black glasses that he wore when he arrived at the team quarters in Herzogenaurach. Cool and casual, yes. But the model made him older than he is. Also mature? There was little to feel about the other habit, observers agreed.

Does someone just put on the role of the young magician? The (football) world is open to him. At DFB appointments before his probably last international matches, Wirtz did not speak as a Leverkusen professional. However, practically every available interlocutor was asked about the exceptional.

Nagelsmann and the consultant function

“As a FC Bayern player, I would of course have wished that he would come to us. I know what it’s like to play with him,” said Kimmich. Munich, that seemed so good to fit. The “Wusiala” association of the highly gifted with Jamal Musiala at club level. Munich, that fit. Almost exactly a year ago, Wirtz shot the acclaimed first goal of the home European Championship at the furious 5-1 start against Scotland.

Since Liverpool is now the chosen location, the only Premier League professional in the squad of national coach Julian Nagelsmann in the Wirtz-Causa was currently particularly in demand. “Of course I speak a lot with Flo, and we also exchanged a little about it,” said Niclas Füllkrug about his role as England consultant.

The striker also had a serious first season at West Ham United due to injuries. Wirtz, filling jug is certain that start -up difficulties on the island would not have to fear: “No matter where it goes, he will work very well there. If it should be Liverpool, I am sure that he will certainly bring this team forward.”

The main coach Nagelsmann is about the fact that Wirtz brings himself further forward on his career path to the world star. In a year, Wirtz should lead the national team to the World Cup victory. Combined number 30 against Portugal is only an intermediate step in this way.

“I try to say what I think is important from a national training point of view. And that is that he plays and that he plays a similar role in terms of scope as he also makes in Leverkusen. Only then do I believe that he will develop in the direction in which he can develop,” said Nagelsmann about his consultant function.

The national coach demands development

It was important to the national coach: he was not pro or contra Bayern. But still a nail-man argument could have been important for Wirtz. “He is still young. And he has to have this sustainability. And it is important that he has a club where he also has an important sporting role, but may also get a role beyond the sporty one as a leader at some point,” said Nagelsmann.

Munich might have been the more comfortable place. Liverpool allegedly had better sporting arguments at short notice, presented by trainer Arne Slot. In the medium term, Wirtz will have to assert itself in a different way in another culture, with a different language. His congenial DFB partner Musiala has the advantage of fluent English in striving for world star status.

One who first had to leave home to make the big breakthrough also sees Wirtz on the right track. “It is always a little more difficult to assert yourself abroad. But with his quality to stage players, playing intelligent passports, he will also be a decisive player at Liverpool,” said former DFB manager Oliver Bierhoff, who once found his big football happiness in Italy.