Bayern Munich is reportedly still feeling the sting after Florian Wirtz turned down their offer in favor of a move to Liverpool. According to board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Wirtz would have enjoyed a stronger start to the season had he chosen Bayern instead.
The German champions had pursued Wirtz for some time, even going as far back as 2022 when top executives Uli Hoeneß and Rummenigge supported the midfielder during his ACL recovery. Wirtz himself later admitted that rejecting Bayern wasn’t an easy decision and that he felt a bit guilty about it. Still, he ultimately opted to join Arne Slot’s project at Liverpool during the summer transfer window.
Rummenigge, who remains an influential voice within Bayern, hasn't quite moved on from the rejection. He also touched on the club's recent transfer strategy, including the decision not to compete with Newcastle United for Nick Woltemade.
“To be honest, Wirtz’s decision still hurts,” Rummenigge told Welt, as quoted by Football365. “I truly believe he would’ve had a better season with us than he will at Liverpool.”
“As for Woltemade, we could’ve signed him too,” he added. “But Bayern made a conscious decision to stay out of any financial chaos. I’ve always said our goal is sporting success, but we want to achieve it in a responsible, sustainable way.”
