Florian Wirtz’s journey from precocious teenager to Bayer Leverkusen immortal has been far from plain-sailing.
A devastating ACL tear suffered in March 2022 threw the concept of linear development out of the window. Having made such a promising start to his senior career, Wirtz would have to reset upon his return.
The German’s comeback was complete less than a year later, and while there was no room for linear growth, Wirtz has since enjoyed an exponential boom. Little did everybody know that when they were tuning into some lockdown Bundesliga football in May 2020, the 17-year-old kid who wasn’t Kai Havertz (the Arsenal star scored a brace on Wirtz’s debut) would inspire Die Werkself to their maiden league title less than four years later.
Wirtz’s remarkable resurgence in the wake of a potentially career-hindering injury was timed perfectly with the arrival of Xabi Alonso, and the Leverkusen duo will sit among the most in-demand player/coach prospects in the game while they remain at the BayArena.
Alonso has committed his future to the German club for at least another year, and Leverkusen will hope their talismanic on-pitch genius remains, too. Europe’s elite are circling, but only a monster offer will draw the club to the negotiating table.
While a departure currently seems unlikely, here’s how 90min ranks Wirtz’s potential summer destinations.
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