Bayer Leverkusen send Florian Wirtz message after Liverpool criticism

Florian Wirtz has been sent a classy message by his former club Bayer Leverkusen after a challenging start at Liverpool.

Liverpool splashed out a whopping £116million to sign Wirtz in the summer but the attacking midfielder has struggled to make an impact.

The Germany international has failed to score or assist since setting up Hugo Ekitike‘s goal in the club’s Community Shield clash with Crystal Palace in August. Wirtz overall performance during match days has drawn considerable flak from both fans and commentators, who expected more from the 22-year-old.

Florian Wirtz prepares for free kick during the UEFA Champions League match between Galatasaray and Liverpool (Photo by YAGIZ GURTUG/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

However, in a show of solidarity, Leverkusen took to TikTok to post a message of support for Wirtz, who was with them for five years and left as a club legend. They shared a compilation of Wirtz’s highlights at the club with the caption: “Just Florian Wirtz,” showcasing his impressive goals and skills.

The video began with clips of Wirtz missing penalties, accompanied by the text: “It all started with some random hate online,” before transitioning to his most spectacular goals and displaying his skillful play, with the follow-up message: “But you mean the world to us.”

Leverkusen’s video has been met with mixed reactions from fans especially Liverpool fans.

Some users poked fun at Wirtz’s slow start at Liverpool. One user quipped: “Give us a refund,” and another suggested: “Have him back,” reports the Liverpool Echo.

While some fans were quick to criticise Wirtz, others showed more patience. One supporter expressed their unwavering support: “I backed [Darwin] Nunez for 3 years…I’ll back flo for an eternity,” while another pointed out: “He’s 22 in a new league and system in a team that’s playing awful and people expect him to be prime [Kevin] De Bruyne, he’s actually created a lot of chances in games, especially against Atletico.”