Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: "Wirtz is the best player in Germany for me" | OneFootball

In an interview with Abendzeitung, reported by Bild, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, former Chief Executive Officer of FC Bayern München between 2002 and 2021, stated that Florian Wirtz is a transfer target that Bayern should be focused on in the summer transfer window.

Rummenigge said in the interview that the Bayer Leverkusen youngster “is the best player in Germany for me, and I make no secret of the fact that it should be our goal to commit to Wirtz”.

In the same interview, the former West German international striker from the 1970s and 1980s stated, regarding Uli Hoeneß' prior statement about Wirtz earlier this week, that he and Hoeneß both believe that Wirtz would fit well with Bayern.

“Uli said that Florian Wirtz is his dream, and this was still politely expressed. Everyone agrees within Bayern that Florian is exactly the player we want to select, not to weaken Leverkusen, but to strengthen us”.

Hoeneß himself said earlier this week in a discussion with Kicker that Bayern always need to choose players that make their team stronger overall, and that he would love to see Wirtz in a Bayern uniform, but also stated that his opinion regarding the Pulheim-born attacking midfielder is “what football fan Uli Hoeneß says, not the Bayern man”.

Hoeneß wants Bayern to develop their own talent, saying to Kicker that in contrast to the clubs “financed by Abu Dhabi (Manchester City) or Qatar (PSG), we have to develop players ourselves, that is the most important thing - just as FC Barcelona has been doing in spite of their financial issues”.

About the rise of Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen in recent years, and the fact that Bayern is playing Leverkusen again in the Champions League this upcoming Wednesday, Rummenigge said that Bayer has replaced Borussia Dortmund as the main competitor to the 33-time Bundesliga champions, and that they “will probably compete the most at a national level in the next few years, which is why the round of sixteen is very important".

He finished by telling Abendzeitung journalists that “in the Champions League, a victory against Leverkusen could give us a decisive boost on our way to the final”.

FC Bayern will host Wirtz and Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 this upcoming Wednesday, with the opening kickoff set for 21.00 (CET). The matchup then shifts to the BayArena on Tuesday, 11. March, with a 21.00 (CET) kickoff.