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KIRKBY, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Florian Wirtz is unveiled as a Liverpool player after his signing at AXA Training Centre on June 20, 2025 in Kirkby, England.

(Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)(Image: 2025 Liverpool FC)

Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro has fired back at his Borussia Dortmund counterpart, Hans-Joachim Watzke, after his controversial comments about Florian Wirtz’s move to Liverpool last month.

The Reds beat Bayern Munich to Wirtz's signature as they wrapped up a potential club-record £116m deal.

Bayern had previously been considered favourites to sign the Germany international and did not react well on missing out to Liverpool.

Dortmund CEO, Watzke, prompted raised eyebrows when he had his say on the transfer saga, insisting it was a ‘real shame’ to see Wirtz leave the Bundesliga rather than sign for Munich.

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“It’s a real shame, especially for the DFL, that a player like Florian Wirtz is leaving the Bundesliga,” he told Kicker.

He’ll play at the highest level in Liverpool, too.

“He could have worked better with (Jamal) Musiala in Munich, but two such good footballers can find each other anyway.”

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Carro has now hit back at some comments, though, admitting they made little sense to him.

“Honestly, yes.

“I don’t understand how he, as the boss of Borussia Dortmund, could have been happy if Wirtz had gone to Munich.

“That would have made Bayern even stronger.

I want an exciting Bundesliga.

“I’m happy when more clubs – besides us – make life difficult for Bayern, because I believe that benefits the Bundesliga.”

Leverkusen are the only side to have stopped Bayern Munich winning the Bundesliga title since former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp led Dortmund to their most recent championship in 2012.

By selling Wirtz to the Reds rather than Bayern, Leverkusen technically maintained their record of having not sold a player to the German giants since Lucio made the switch for €12m in 2004.

Two years prior, they had also reluctantly sold both Ze Roberto and Michael Ballack to Bayern for €12m and €6m respectively after reaching the Champions League final.

Jonathan Tah did leave Leverkusen for Munich this summer in an €800,000 deal, but the defender had been set to join the champions on a free transfer anyway following the expiry of his contract.

Instead, Leverkusen received a small fee to release him from his contract a month early so he could compete in the FIFA Club World Cup with Bayern.

In contrast, Dortmund lost a number of star players to Munich following their success under Klopp.

Bayern snapped up both Mario Gotze and Mats Hummels in big-money moves, while they also signed Robert Lewandowski on a free transfer, between the summers of 2013 and 2016.

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Dortmund most recently saw Raphael Guerreiro leave the club to join Munich on a Bosman transfer in the summer of 2023.