FBL-EUR-C1-LEVERKUSEN-SALZBURG
Florian Wirtz has said he has Jeremie Frimpong to thank for teaching him English, after the German joined his former teammate at Liverpool.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Speaking in an interview for the Liverpool website following the completion of his British-record £116m move, Wirtz revealed the impact Frimpong had on him while the two sat next to each other in the Leverkusen changing room. Frimpong would often encourage Wirtz to speak English with him, and Wirtz credits the Dutchman in helping him improve.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Vacation mode with my bro 📵🏖️ pic.twitter.com/Z2wqOEBscU
Frimpong moved to England aged seven, before spending nine years in Manchester City's academy and then moving to Celtic. The 24-year-old Dutchman has thus spent the majority of his life living in the UK, and so was the perfect man to have taught Wirtz English. The pair have great chemistry on and off the pitch, and recently enjoyed a holiday together which was uploaded to social media.
WHAT WIRTZ SAID
Wirtz said when asked if Frimpong was responsible for teaching him English: "Yes, he was my neighbour in the changing room, he sat directly next to me and I had to speak English with him. After I finished my school, I didn't speak really good English but he was teaching me a lot and making me speak in more English and better English.
He also spoke of the prospect of joining up with Frimpong once again at Anfield. "I played, I think, three or four years with him," said Wirtz. "He's a really good player, a really good person, a really funny guy. Good for every changing room and also on the pitch, big qualities to attack and to defend. He was then the first one who signed with Liverpool and of course he wanted me to join as well. But I think I made my decision by my own, but it was maybe a small part that convinced me in the end as well.
"I think it's a really nice thing that we can play together again at a new club, at maybe a bigger club, and make the move together. I'm really looking forward to standing on the pitch with him again."
wirtz
WHAT NEXT FOR WIRTZ AND FRIMPONG?
With their summer trip away together now seemingly over, the pair will look forward to linking up on the pitch in the red of Liverpool next season. The champions have made a big statement with their early transfer business, and their new signings will be dreaming of Premier League and Champions League glory under Arne Slot. Fans will have a close eye on Wirtz's performances in particular, as he becomes the latest player to join the '€100m club'.
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