Wayne Rooney Questions Florian Wirtz’s Fit at Liverpool
Liverpool’s record signing Florian Wirtz has come under scrutiny from former England and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, who doubts whether the German midfielder truly fits into Arne Slot’s system at Anfield.
🗣️ Rooney’s Verdict
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show (BBC), Rooney made his concerns clear:
> “I don’t see where he fits into Liverpool’s system. I think Wirtz actually harms the team’s balance and the way they play.”
Rooney also noted that he would personally pick Dominik Szoboszlai over Wirtz in the current setup, suggesting Liverpool already had quality in the same role before splashing a club-record £115 million on the 21-year-old.
💰 The Transfer Context
Wirtz arrived from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer for a fee of £100m guaranteed, rising to £116m with add-ons.
Expectations were sky-high, but the midfielder has endured a slow start to life at Liverpool, struggling to deliver decisive goals or assists.
With Liverpool also adding new forwards like Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, competition in the final third has intensified.
⚽ The Debate Around Wirtz
Some pundits back Rooney’s opinion, believing Wirtz has disrupted Liverpool’s usual balance and rhythm.
Others disagree, pointing to Wirtz’s creativity and technical quality, arguing that it is only a matter of time before he adapts fully to Slot’s system.
Reports suggest Liverpool themselves remain confident Wirtz will come good, stressing his work rate and influence in training.
🔮 What’s Next?
Wirtz’s performances in the coming months will be closely monitored, especially with big fixtures ahead in both the Premier League and Champions League. The question remains: will he prove Rooney wrong and become the game-changer Liverpool paid for, or continue to fuel doubts about his fit at Anfield?
