Take the ball, pass the ball. It is not just a philosophy for Pep Guardiola, but a mantra and an obsession. Those words produced a film about his years that Barcelona was the largest team of modern times and formed the basis of the three teams with whom he managed to win a series of trophies.
When Guardiola is looking for a player, it is essential that they can take the ball and pass on.
The importance of this was drilled in him by Johan Cruyff and although it took time to understand the methodology – Michael Laudrup Impishy called him 'Pep two foot' because he would often follow too many details in training – he is now the ultimate tutor , taking those who want to learn to new levels.
It is easy to see why he wants Florian Wirtz. The dramatic and rapid renovation of Manchester City, which started with an eyebrow that published £ 185 million in January, will continue this summer in pace and what an addition of the young Germany International would be.
He has the gift to play football at his own pace, the kind of midfielder that attracts your attention with the way his socks nestle halfway through his calves like Jack Grealisk and the lazy way to gently move a jack.
No wonder he has become one of Europe's most much sought after midfielders. He flourished under Xabi Alonso and became a kingpin in the side that wrote history last season with the first invincible domestic campaign in the Bundesliga.
In the night they shake the basis of the established order last February, 3-0 with 3-0 from Bayern Munich in the Bayarena, Wirtz was glorious forward, went into those small bags and created chaos-court foot, left foot, a simple Pass of Film. Bayern could not put a glove on him.
Mail Sport once looked at a training session in Leverkusen, before a Europa League group match against Molde in December 2023, and Alonso has the same handle over his team as Guardiola, preaching to his players, standing in a semi-circle about how property is preserved The law.
Alonso had a stint under Guardiola and was fascinated by how he would map his ideas.
“To go on this path, we have to do this and this and do this to get here,” Alonso explained. “Pep thinks of all those steps. But he doesn't think alone. He shows us to convince us that it will be the best way, from a tactical point of view, the motivating position. He thinks of every side. '
Alonso's determination to bring Leverkusen forward, the players fascinated with whom he works, not in the least Wirtz. For his part, the 43-year-old is on a mission to bring his young protector to the highest possible level.
“We want to help Florian Wirtz,” said Alonso, after having split in a 5-0 skewer of Red Bull Salzburg last November. “We know how different he is; We have to find it at the right moments. This competition is for him. He is a Champions League player. '
Not only that, he is a player for the biggest moments, that's why it came as a big surprise on Saturday evening when Wirtz missed a glorious opportunity to blow the title race wide open in the last seconds of their newest collision with Bayern, widely put a shot wide For the purpose of his grace in injury time.
Wirtz, one of those jewels to develop at the excellent Academy of Leverkusen, will be a Champions League player for a long time, but how long will he stay in his hometown club? If Guardiola has his wish, this will not be beyond the end of the current campaign.
But a warning in this story: a price of £ 85 million (€ 100 million) has been disputed but private in Leverkusen, they are incredible that it is believed that they will do business with that figure. If City Wirtz wants, the sofa must be broken.
Leverkusen has been in negotiations with Wirtz to have him sign an extension of his contract; His current conditions run until 2027, but the ruling champions believe that he will work for another 12 months.
A buy -out clause of £ 104 million (€ 125 million), which will be involved in 2026, has been disputed.
If he does not want to sign, Leverkusen would be reserved sellers this summer, but only on their conditions – and that would be for £ 125 million (€ 150 million). Guardiola would recognize deep down why she puts such a value on such a special place, the young man who makes the ball and passes the ball so easily.
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