Liverpool have recently signed German Wunderkind, Florian Wirtz on a five-year deal in a transfer worth £116 million – made up of £100 million plus £16 million in potential add-ons. This fee could make the 22-year-old Wirtz the most expensive player in the history of British football, potentially eclipsing the previous British-record fee of £115 million Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo.
Liverpool fended off fierce competition from clubs including Bayern Munich and Manchester City to capture the signature of the coveted midfielder, with Real Madrid also thought to be considering a move at one stage.
Florian Wirtz has recently named his three best friends in football as “Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong is also a good friend. Amine Adli, from Leverkusen,” in a post by Pro:Direct. All three players were his former teammates at Bayer Leverkusen, highlighting how his closest football friendships were forged during his time with the German club.
Relationship with Jeremie Frimpong
Speaking of chemistry, the German’s relationship with Jeremie Frimpong has been integral to Bayer Leverkusen’s invincible season. Frimpong called Wirtz “The first person who made him comfortable” and that they would often visit each other’s houses during off days. Before the German learnt how to drive, Frimpong would often pick him up and they would go to training together.
Frimpong played a direct role in convincing Wirtz to join Liverpool, with Wirtz revealing: “I met him on holiday and we spoke a lot also at the end of the season. He is a good friend and he was telling me to join us at Liverpool, so I am really happy that we are coming together.”
Agent Frimpong to the job, given how close it was between Wirtz joining Liverpool or Bayern, it could be said that Frimpong’s arrival could have played a part in Wirtz joining the Reds.
Their friendship has clearly been instrumental in both players’ adaptation to their new club, with their bond serving as a foundation for their transition from the Bundesliga to the Premier League.
Jonathan Tah on Wirtz joining Liverpool
Speaking of Bayern Munich, his former captain Jonathan Tah would join the Bavarian side, one of Wirtz’s mentors and friends.
Jonathan Tah and Florian Wirtz shared five years together at Bayer Leverkusen, with Tah describing their relationship as: “My Gova, it was an honour to fight alongside you for every victory on the pitch for five years. You’ve also grown close to my heart off the pitch.”
When asked about discussions with Wirtz regarding their respective during Bayern’s Club World Cup camp, Tah revealed: “Flo is a close friend, of course we spoke about that. He has made his decision. We don’t need to say much about that.” (via @iMiaSanMia).
Amine on 3 of his friends leaving
Amine Adli has described his relationship with Wirtz, Frimpong, and Tah in the most personal terms possible, calling them “my brothers.” This indicates that their friendship went far beyond typical teammate relationships and became a genuine familial-type bond.
Florian Wirtz and Amine Adli, as attacking teammates at Leverkusen, played similar roles. Their creativity and technical prowess enabled them to interchange positions effectively and naturally complement each other’s styles. This mutual understanding on the pitch probably deepened their personal relationship.
It’s a testament to Adli’s true friendship that, despite his personal sadness about their departures, he was genuinely thrilled for their career advancements. “I’m very happy for the three of them because they wanted to go where they are now. It’s great for them. I think they’ve made a very good step. I wish them all the best because they are my brothers. That’s part of football. I will always look out for them. When I have time, I’ll visit them or they’ll come visit us. We’ll always stay in contact.” he said, demonstrating the unselfish nature of their friendship.
Florian Wirtz’s friendships show us something beautiful about football. Yes, the game is all about winning trophies and chasing dreams, but at its heart, it’s still about the people you meet along the way.
