Florian Wirtz (foto: Getty Images)
Florian Wirtz has dismissed the idea that money plays a role in his footballing decisions, saying his career path and sporting perspective always come first.
Speaking to the German edition of Sports Illustrated, the Bayer Leverkusen star explained that his priorities have always been shaped by his family values and a focus on professional growth rather than financial gain.
“When I moved from Cologne to Leverkusen, I didn’t think for a second about what my salary would be. I was only interested in what would be best for my career,” said the 21-year-old midfielder.
“I don’t think about how much money I have in my account or how much I could earn in the future. The sporting perspective is much more important than money. My parents would be angry if I ever gave money priority,” he added.
Wirtz also revealed how his parents handled his finances early in his career, giving him only €150 in monthly pocket money to keep him grounded. “That shaped me. It was very important to them that I didn’t do anything stupid with money.”
His close-knit family, particularly his parents and sister, were crucial to his development, both on and off the pitch.
“My family was always by my side. They encouraged me, helped me, and made sure I never lost focus. I had a lot of freedom, but they always ensured I didn’t spend too much time with friends before matches. They taught me to live a responsible life where school was never neglected,” said Wirtz.
As speculation grows over a potential summer move to Bayern Munich, Wirtz’s comments indicate that his decisions will be guided by football, not finance. German outlet Bild recently reported that Wirtz has given the green light to Bayern to begin negotiations with Leverkusen, but no official confirmation has followed yet.
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Written by Klemen Kos , football journalist with 20 years of experience.
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