Former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid star Toni Kroos has had his say on Florian Wirtz's potential club-record move to Liverpool
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Florian Wirtz and Toni Kroos of Germany look on during the warm up prior to the international friendly match between Germany and Greece at Borussia Park Stadium
Florian Wirtz and Toni Kroos of Germany look on during the warm up prior to the international friendly match between Germany and Greece at Borussia Park Stadium
(Image: 2024 Getty Images)
Toni Kroos has admitted he initially did not believe that Florian Wirtz would join Liverpool - but has backed the Bayer Leverkusen star to thrive at Anfield. The Reds are in talks with the Bundesliga outfit over a potential club-record deal.
Bayern Munich had previously been favourites to sign the 22-year-old, but have since conceded defeat in their pursuit of the playmaker after being informed he wished to join Liverpool.
Kroos - who started his senior career with Bayern Munich but spent the 2009/10 season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen - insists you can only judge if Wirtz is making the best choice after completing a move.
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But despite his surprise at his former club missing out on his compatriot, the former Real Madrid star offered an exciting assessment of the Germany international ahead of his possible move to Liverpool.
“It was just obvious to everyone that he was going to Bayern,” Kroos said at the indoor football league ‘Icon League’ in Berlin. “I didn't know that, and in my old way, I didn't believe it (that he would reject Bayern for Liverpool) at first when someone wrote that.”
“Ultimately, he's so good that he's capable of asserting himself anywhere.
“If he thinks that’s the best next step for him and his career, then that's good. You can technically only judge decisions like this afterwards, of course.
“He is a player who can prevail at any club in the world in my opinion.
“Will it happen? No matter where he would have gone now, Bayern or Liverpool, it's different from being at Leverkusen for sure.
“But he has all the tools to assert himself at any given top club. So we’re staying excited.”
Wirtz has made 197 appearances for Leverkusen to date, returning 57 goals and 65 assists.
Thriving under Xabi Alonso, he has recorded 34 goals and 35 assists from 94 outings over the past two seasons.
Meanwhile, he played a starring role for Leverkusen as they won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal in 2023/24 in an extraordinary campaign which saw Alonso’s men only lose once - in the Europa League final - all season as they were crowned German champions for the first time in their history.