Florian Wirtz: Leverkusen already wanted me 10 years ago
Florian Wirtz claims Bayer Leverkusen first wanted to snap him up 10 years ago, when he was still a youth player, but he chose to join FC Köln instead at the time.
Florian Wirtz has been revelation for Bayer Leverkusen following his switch from FC Köln in January, emerging as a regular starter at the age of just 17.
According to Wirtz, Leverkusen already wanted to add him to their youth ranks 10 years ago, when he was playing for childhood club Grün-Weiß Brauweiler, but he opted to join FC Köln back then.
"At the time, Leverkusen also wanted to bring me in," Wirtz reveals in an interview with Bild.
Asked about his decision to depart FC Köln in January, Wirtz said:
"I can understand that 'FC' were disappointed and that their fans are still angry about it. But I feel very comfortable in Leverkusen.
"I had to look at my future and my perspective, and when I look back, it was the right decision. At 'FC', I wasn't even thinking about playing for the professionals at that point, it was very far away," explained Wirtz, who recently signed a new contract until 2023 with Leverkusen.