Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish has offered some wise and timely advice to Florian Wirtz as the 22-year-old prepares to navigate life as the club’s most expensive signing of all time.
Wirtz completed a stunning £116 million move from Bayer Leverkusen this summer, breaking the British transfer record – a feat Dalglish accomplished himself when he joined the Reds from Celtic for £440,000 in 1977 when stepping into the void left by Kevin Keegan’s departure to Hamburg.
“King Kenny” spent 13 years at Anfield, as both player and manager, and lead Liverpool to one of their most dominant periods. The Scottish legend made 515 appearances for the Reds, 307 during his time as manager, winning six league titles, three European Cups and an abundance of other domestic honours.
Speaking to Redman TV and This is Anfield, Dalglish was keen to ease the pressure on the German playmaker and summed up his advice in three words.
“Just be yourself.”
Daglish’s words urge Wirtz to focus on authenticity rather than expectation, and it’s wise counsel from a Liverpool legend who understands the pressure that comes with wearing the shirt who, like Wirtz, was brought in to fill big boots.
“I don’t know if he can expect the same as me. I came in the year after they’d won the European Cup as well, Kevin Keegan moved away. He asked to go and he moved to Hamburg. I only came in and tried to be myself. You’ve got a better chance of being yourself than trying to impersonate someone else.”
Wirtz arrives at Anfield on the back of an exceptional season in Germany, where he scored 16 goals and registered 15 assists for Leverkusen. The season prior, he helped lead his side to a domestic double in an unbeaten campaign under Xabi Alonso. Yet despite the hype and expectations surrounding his record-breaking move, Dalglish’s advice was grounded in simplicity.
The 74-year-old admitted having not seen a lot of the German play maker firsthand, but is putting his trust in Liverpool head coach Arne Slot, who has already made a big impression after guiding the club to the Premier League title in his debut season.
The reigning champions saw off heavy competition from Real Madrid, Manchester City and Bayern Munich to land Wirtz, committing an initial £100 million to the deal, with a further £16 million in performance-related bonuses. Should those add-ons be triggered, Wirtz would not only become Liverpool’s most expensive player ever but also in Premier League history.
Wirtz may have arrived with a hefty price tag and high expectations, but with guidance from legends like Dalglish and the trust of the manager, it’s not about living up to a price tag but about being yourself.
