Bayern Munich are often cocky, and can usually back that up. The club is easily the biggest in German and has shown on repeat occasions that it can almost bully others in the Bundesliga when it comes to transfers.
That cockiness has been on display this year via their honorary president Uli Hoeneß and his repeat public comments about the club working to sign Florian Wirtz. Multiple times he’s spoken about the potential transfer with some confidence, only to now lose out to Liverpool.
German newspaper [Bild](http://bild.de) take a look at the situation in their Sunday edition and call it an ’embarrassment’ for the Bundesliga winners. It even gets a mention on the front page given how big a deal this story is in Germany. Bild explain that on the pitch, Bayern Munich will be just fine without Wirtz, but it’s the blow to the club’s stature which is seen as the bigger issue.
Liverpool and Arne Slot have managed to convince Wirtz and his family when Bayern Munich and Vincent Kompany were unable to do so, despite trying their best several times.
Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthäus is quoted as saying: _“This is a defeat for FC Bayern, and for Uli Hoeneß personally, certainly the most painful in the transfer market in recent times: He had repeatedly stated that Wirtz was their absolute dream player, and that FC Bayern would pull out all the stops to sign him. Therefore, the rejection is also a heavy, painful defeat for Uli._
_“Personally, I also thought Florian would want to stay in Germany for the next few years. He’s taking on a big challenge. It’s not just a new club. It’s a new mentality, a new language. But: This step also shows that he’s not afraid. Wirtz believes in himself 100 percent – and rightly so: I have absolute confidence in him to make it at Liverpool and in the Premier League. He doesn’t have to hide from anyone. A year before the World Cup, the move is also a risk, a leap into the unknown – but his environment, his family, will certainly support him very well._
_“The decision also shows: For Wirtz, FC Bayern is simply not the No. 1. The Premier League, with its quality at the top and its breadth, is the best league in the world, with great intensity and pace.”_
And perhaps it’s that last part which is really stinging for Bayern Munich.