Sport Journalist Fabrizio Romano Breaks Silence and Says the Main Reason Manchester City Gave Up on Florian Wirtz Transfer

Manchester City have officially stepped away from the Florian Wirtz pursuit, ending weeks of speculation linking the German prodigy with a high-profile move to the Etihad Stadium. For much of the early summer window, Wirtz had been City’s top target — seen internally as the ideal successor to Kevin De Bruyne, who is set to leave the club after more than a decade of iconic service.

Pep Guardiola had personally earmarked Wirtz as the man to carry the creative burden left by De Bruyne’s departure. The Bayer Leverkusen star was admired not just for his technical brilliance but also for his intelligence, vision, and maturity at such a young age. City scouts followed him intensively throughout the 2024/25 season, and the initial approach was made well before the window opened.

However, despite strong interest and internal excitement over Wirtz, Manchester City abruptly withdrew from the race. According to Fabrizio Romano, the transfer expert who has followed the saga closely, the club’s retreat wasn’t only down to money — though that certainly played a significant role.

Romano revealed on his YouTube channel that City’s board became increasingly concerned with the overall package required to land Wirtz. The full cost of the transfer — including the fee, salary demands, and agent commissions — was projected to hit around €300 million (£252 million). That figure would have made it the most expensive deal in Manchester City’s history, by far surpassing the £100 million spent on Jack Grealish.

More than just the price tag, the timeline of the deal also became a point of tension. Romano disclosed that Manchester City had urged Wirtz and his camp to accelerate their decision-making process. The club needed clarity to proceed with other targets and finalize their summer strategy. However, Wirtz preferred to take more time — a stance that clashed with City’s desire for swift movement.

Liverpool, on the other hand, have reportedly shown more flexibility with the 21-year-old’s timeframe, which is one reason why they’ve now emerged as serious contenders to land him. This patience and openness could be a decisive factor as the transfer saga unfolds in the coming weeks.

For Guardiola, this summer window is pivotal. With De Bruyne leaving and other squad areas needing reinforcement, the club intends to bring in four to five new players. Committing over £250 million to a single target would have placed immense pressure on the budget and restricted flexibility for other signings.

City are now exploring alternative options to strengthen their midfield. Two names have surfaced in recent days — Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest and Tijjani Reijnders of AC Milan. Both players offer creativity and energy, and while they may not match Wirtz’s ceiling, they come with a far more manageable price tag.

There is also a philosophical side to City’s decision. Despite their financial might, the club has always been cautious about setting new transfer records unless absolutely necessary. The Grealish deal was a one-off — a calculated gamble for a proven Premier League performer. Wirtz, while immensely talented, is still developing and represents more of a future investment than a guaranteed immediate payoff.

Guardiola’s frustration will be understandable. Missing out on Wirtz — a player tailor-made for his system — will sting, especially after losing the FA Cup final just days ago. City now find themselves needing to recalibrate their summer strategy quickly and decisively.

This summer marks a crucial crossroads for Guardiola’s project. The squad needs refreshing, the core is aging, and the rest of the league is strengthening. Without De Bruyne, City will lack a central figure who has been instrumental in every major trophy won over the last ten years.

Letting go of the Wirtz deal may seem like a setback, but City believe it was the right call. The fear of overpaying and potentially disrupting their wage structure or compromising future flexibility was enough to make them pull the plug.

Ultimately, this saga showcases how even the richest clubs must balance ambition with realism. City had the money — but not the appetite to spend recklessly.

With the Wirtz chapter now closed, all eyes will be on what Manchester City do next. Guardiola’s transfer record suggests they’ll still land top-tier reinforcements. But as of now, the club is recalibrating and moving on — while Florian Wirtz’s future may lie elsewhere, perhaps in the red of Liverpool.