Florian Wirtz’s father and agent, Hans Wirtz, has lifted the lid on why his son chose Liverpool over Bayern Munich in the summer. Speaking on ZDF’s Bolzplatz and relayed by BILD, he confirmed that Arne Slot’s direct pitch was decisive in the €136m switch from Bayer Leverkusen. The German playmaker has had early adaptation bumps, but the family is backing the project at Anfield.
“It was important that Arne Slot spoke with Florian,” Hans explained. “He explained his value to him, including his value to the future team, and how he envisions the collaboration. And that convinced Florian.”
For Liverpool, it’s the clearest on-record validation yet that the manager’s plan and personal touch, won the race.
Florian Wirtz Liverpool transfer: why Arne Slot mattered
The courtship was personal as much as tactical. Reports of face-to-face meetings set the tone; Hans Wirtz has now confirmed Slot’s conversations tied it all together. The message was simple: here’s your role, here’s the roadmap, and here’s how we’ll grow together. For a 22-year-old courted by Europe’s biggest, that clarity beat the noise.
Wirtz senior also pointed to the wider rebuild. “It was exciting for him to join a team that has undoubtedly grown and, in addition to him, has also made one or two new signings… all of them of a corresponding quality.” The project, not just the price tag, did the convincing.
Florian Wirtz €136m deal and Bayern Munich links
Wirtz was widely expected to trend toward Bayern. Instead, the midfielder headed to Anfield in a €136m move after months of speculation. Bayern’s long-running interest underlined his status; Liverpool’s plan, backed by Slot’s pitch, flipped the script. That context shapes expectations and explains why patience and fit are part of the early narrative.
The father’s remarks acknowledge a bedding-in period without alarm. The conviction is that role clarity and consistent minutes will turn promise into production over time.
Hans Wirtz framed the decision around value and vision: a manager who “explained his value… to the future team,” plus a squad built to complement his strengths. That means freedom between the lines, quick combinations and responsibility in the final third. If the collaboration looks like the pitch, output should follow the process.
Crucially, the move was not just about escaping a tug-of-war. It was about choosing a place where the player’s profile sits at the centre of the plan rather than the periphery.
What comes next at Anfield
Early “struggles” happen, even marquee signings need rhythm. The family’s stance is that the foundations are right: a defined role, a manager’s trust and a dressing room that has “undoubtedly grown.” With those pieces in place, the arc points upward. The takeaway for Liverpool is simple: Slot won the decision; now the football must make good on it.
Editorial conclusion: the headline is not the fee, it’s the fit. Hans Wirtz says Slot’s vision “convinced” his son. If that partnership translates from pitch room to pitch day, the summer’s biggest call will read like the right one.
