Germany legend Michael Ballack believes that Bayern Munich were right to step back from deals for Florian Wirtz and Nick Woltemade this summer, with Liverpool and Newcastle paying “insane amounts”.
Ballack [has been talking to BILD](https://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/ballack-erklaert-wirtz-wechsel-zu-bayern-nicht-attraktiv-68bfe5394ac77774b91e9a2b) about various topics, including the two major departures from the Bundesliga this summer.
Both players had been expected to join Bayern this summer, with the German champions very much in the mix for them.
Wirtz, though, turned down them and Manchester City in favour of a €125m move to Liverpool that surprised pretty much everyone.
Woltemade, meanwhile, had been linked with Bayern for months, with them viewing him as an alternative and long-term replacement for Harry Kane.
Bayern, though, refused to pay Stuttgart’s asking price and the striker instead ended up at Newcastle in an €85m deal as a replacement for Alexander Isak.
That deal has been questioned by Bayern’s various talking heads since, particularly the value of it, and Ballack believes that they were right to avoid getting involved.
“Of course, English clubs pay insane amounts,” he said.
“But Bayern were also willing to put together a package worth up to €100 million for Wirtz. And as for Nick Woltemade: That’s a different case. Bayern has a financial budget.
“The club has excelled for decades by staying out of debt and growing big. That’s why I understand why Bayern decided not to pay more than €55 million for Woltemade.
“Because the player was no longer worth anything to them. But fundamentally, I’m concerned about something else.”
Some might question why either player would prefer to join Liverpool or Newcastle over a giant club like Bayern Munich, who are pretty much guaranteed success every season. Ballack, though, believes it’s an example of the Bundesliga falling behind the Premier League.
“Let’s take Wirtz as an example: Does it make sense for him and his development to play in the Bundesliga for Bayern for another two or three years? Of course, he wins championships there,” he added.
“But is the Bundesliga still a challenge for him at the highest level? No, because the Bundesliga was overtaken by the Premier League years ago. That’s the reality. That’s why it’s generally no longer as attractive for the absolute top players. That’s why changes are needed.”