Bayern Munich chief mocked for bitter Liverpool claim after Florian Wirtz jets in

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Florian Wirtz has endured a barrage of barbed remarks from Bayern Munich 's hierarchy after spurning their overtures to join Liverpool this summer. However, whilst the 'war of words' has been largely one-way traffic thus far, the German national team's managing director has fired back at the Bavarian giants in support of the midfielder.

The 22-year-old sealed a £116m switch from Bayer Leverkusen to the Reds this summer , turning down approaches from the likes of Bayern and Man City in the process. Yet he has encountered fierce criticism since the campaign began, with the playmaker still to notch a goal or provide an assist in the Premier League .

After Wirtz 's sluggish beginning in England, Bayern's ex-CEO and current board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge recently targeted his transfer decision.

"I have to say honestly, in the case of Florian Wirtz, it still hurts, I feel sorry for him because I believe the player would have been better off at Bayern than at Liverpool," he told Sport Bild.

DFB managing director Andreas Rettig was questioned about Rummenigge's observations after the Germany squad assembled for the October international break.

And he couldn't help but cheekily ridicule the Bayern icon following his acrimonious comments, before declaring he harbours no doubts that Wirtz will demonstrate his ability at Liverpool. "From a club representative's perspective, I can understand the statement about one of Germany's best players, if he didn't join his own club," he told reporters, including BILD and WELT.

"We shed a tear for him. One thing is clear: Florian will prevail at Liverpool, there's no debate about that. With a player of his quality, no one can seriously say he won't prevail."

Rettig isn't the first German national team official to have backed Wirtz in recent weeks, with sporting director Rudi Voller blaming the playmaker's struggles at Anfield on his new teammates as he continues adapting to English football.

"The big difference is: at Bayer Leverkusen, despite the individual quality of the other players, he was always looked for," Voller said on Sky90. "Players like Granit Xhaka, Alejandro Grimaldo or Robert Andrich certainly ran the game.

"But the moment Florian made himself available, he always got the ball. Even as a young guy, he was already the chief.

"I deliberately watched some Liverpool games with him: he does an incredible amount of work, runs a lot, makes many sprints, and also goes deep.

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"But he isn't played in the way he was used to at Leverkusen or with the national team. That's something that has to be developed over weeks and months.

"I know that he's not one of those divas in his position who stand around with their heads down if they're not passed to three times. Florian isn't like that.

"He's not only an extraordinary footballer, he also has a great character. He will give everything from the first to the last minute, always push forward. He also has incredible running stats. He will assert himself.

"We're very happy that he is with us for ten days now. I am convinced he will deliver two wonderful international matches."

Voller also backed Wirtz to 'show the English' when speaking to BILD earlier this month. "Florian shouldn't let himself get carried away," he said.

"I have no concerns about that: He'll show the English what he's made of. Florian is playing in a new league and a new club. These are normal adjustment problems. Almost every professional has them.

"I have no doubt that with his running and playing ability, he will make the breakthrough."

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