The Bayern Munich honorary president made the assessment in an interview with Welt am Sonntag, reflecting on the midfielder’s decision to join Liverpool rather than move to Munich in 2025.
Asked whether he was now pleased that Bayern had failed to sign Wirtz, Hoeness rejected the suggestion.
“No. Because Florian would play much better for us than he does at Liverpool,” he said.
Hoeness argued that Liverpool have not given the 23-year-old the same central role he enjoyed at Bayer Leverkusen, where he established himself as one of Germany’s leading creative players.
“I watch many of the team’s matches. They haven’t integrated him properly at all. At Leverkusen, he got every ball; at Liverpool, he is one among many,” Hoeness said.
Wirtz joined Liverpool in the summer of 2025 after an extensive transfer pursuit involving several leading European clubs. The deal carried a reported guaranteed fee of €125 million, making him one of the most expensive signings in the club’s history.
His adaptation to English football has attracted scrutiny, although his performances have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks. Hoeness’ comments suggest he believes Liverpool’s tactical use of the midfielder, rather than a lack of ability, has been a major factor in his uneven start.
Despite his criticism, Hoeness ruled out Bayern making another attempt to bring Wirtz to Germany in the immediate future. The player remains under a long-term contract at Anfield, leaving Liverpool in control of his situation.
“No. He has a long-term contract at Liverpool. They will try to integrate him better there,” Hoeness said when asked whether Bayern might revisit their interest.
Wirtz’s future has nevertheless continued to attract speculation. Chelsea have been linked with monitoring the situation, while reports have also mentioned Real Madrid and Barcelona as possible interested clubs. None of those links amounts to a confirmed offer.
For Bayern, Hoeness' comments amount to a public view of what might have been rather than a signal of an imminent transfer. He remains convinced Wirtz would have fitted better into the Munich side, but acknowledges that Liverpool will have the opportunity to improve how they use the Germany international.