Take the ball, pass the ball. It is not just a philosophy for Pep Guardiola but a mantra and an obsession. Those words generated a film about their years, making Barcelona the best team in the modern era and formed the base of the three teams with which he has managed to win a series of trophies.
When Guardiola looks for a player, it is essential that they can take the ball and pass it.
Johan Cruyff pierced him the importance of doing so and, although he took time to understand the methodology: Michael Laudrup used at new levels.
It is easy to see why, then, Florian Wirtz wants. The dramatic and rapid renewal of Manchester City, which began with an eyebrow that raised a waste of £ 185 million in January, will continue to the rhythm this summer and what addition would be the young international of Germany.
He has the gift of playing football at his own pace, the type of midfielder who catches his attention with the way his socks are halfway to his calves like Jack Grealish and the languid way that he can roll possession of fast strikers like a green bowling player from the crown trying to gently move a cat.
It is not surprising that it has become one of the most demanded midfielders in Europe. He has flourished with Xabi Alonso, becoming a boss on the side that made history last season with the first national invincible campaign in the Bundesliga.
Florian Wirtz has established himself as one of the world's best attacker midfielders in Bayer Leverkusen
The Pep Guardiola side wasted £ 185 million in January with new additions and is expected to continue going big in summer
Wirtz has flourished with Leverkusen's head, Xabi Alonso, who also had a period playing under Guardiola in Bayern Munich
At night they shook the foundations of the order established last February, crossing the Bayern Munich 3-0 in the Bayarena, Wirtz was gloriously in the foreground, moving towards those small pockets and creating chaos: right foot, left foot, a pass Simple or a simple pass or skilled flick. Bayern could not put a glove on him.
Mail sport Once he saw a training session in Leverkusen, before a group game of the Europa League against Mold The possession of retention is the possession law.
Alonso had a period playing under Guardiola and was fascinated by how he would map his ideas.
“To follow this path, we need to do this and this and this to get here,” Alonso explained. 'Pep thinks of all those steps. But he not only thinks. It shows us, to convince us that it will be the best way, from the tactical point of view, the motivating point of view. He thinks on all sides.
Alonso's determination to promote Leverkusen forward has captivated the players he is working with, no less important Wirtz. For his part, the 43 -year -old has the mission of taking his young protected at the highest possible level.
“We want to help Florian Wirtz,” Alonso said, after having provided 5-0 asphyxiation of Red Bull Salzburg last November. 'We know how different it is; We have to find it in the right times. This competition is for him. He is a player of the Champions League.
Not only that is a player for the most important moments, so it was a big surprise on Saturday night when, in the last seconds of his last clash with Bayern, Wirtz lost a glorious opportunity to open the race for the Title torque, shooting with the goal to his mercy in injury time.
Wirtz, another of those jewels to develop in the excellent Leverkusen Academy, will be a champions League player for a long time, but how long will stay in the club of his hometown? If Guardiola has his wish, he will not be beyond the end of the current campaign.
The 21 -year -old has a liberation clause of 125 million euros, which comes into play in 2026, which means that any agreement to sign it this summer would reach an even heavier price
But a precautionary note in this story: a price of £ 85m (€ 100 million) has been inclined, but in private in Leverkusen, they are unbelievers that they are supposed to do business in that figure. If City wants Wirtz, the bank will have to break.
Leverkusen has been in negotiations with Wirtz about making an extension of his contract signed; Its current terms last until 2027, but the reigning champions believe they will commit to another 12 months.
A purchase clause of £ 104m (€ 125m) has been discussed, which comes into play in 2026.
If you don't want to sign, Leverkusen would be reluctant vendors this summer but only in its terms, and that would be for £ 125 million (€ 150 million).
Guardiola, deep down, would recognize why they give that value so special that the young man who makes the ball and passing the ball looks so easy.