Pundit and Bayern Munich alum Lothar Matthäus has struck back.
After causing a stir earlier this week by claiming that rising star Florian Wirtz was the cause of a “strain” between former Bayern coach Hansi Flick (now at FC Barcelona) and then-sporting director Hasan “Brazzo” Salihamidžić, Matthäus was treated to a forceful denial from Brazzo himself.
That denial, Matthäus now claims, is all the more evidence that he hit too close to home.
“If Hasan says I’m lying, then I’ve put my finger on the wound, because otherwise people wouldn’t react like that,” Matthäus said on the podcast Vorstadtgeflüster (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “So, I don’t need to lie and I didn’t lie either. Lying is a harsh word. In the past, I would probably have reacted just as sensitively as Hasan. But he’s a bit younger than me. Now I’m smiling.”
But Matthäus also clarified his position — while declining to reiterate any suggestions of an actual argument between Flick and Brazzo over the Bayer Leverkusen ace.
“I probably didn’t express my thoughts as well as I would have liked to. What I mean is that it was a sign that Hansi Flick likes to work with young players, that he recognizes talent early on, but actually nothing against Hasan. But Hasan was in charge at the time and the transfer did not happen. I just wanted to say that Hansi Flick always had the foresight to identify young players early on. He’s doing the same now in Barcelona,” Matthäus added.
Who’s right? Who’s wrong?
BFW Analysis
Not that this exhausting episode needs it, but if you ask me and reading between the lines…
- Flick liked Wirtz: ✅
- Flick would have liked to bring Wirtz to Bayern: ✅ (And Messi too while you’re at it!)
- Wirtz was tracked by Flick and/or Bayern bosses: ✅ (“Since he was a youth player,” Brazzo said.)
- Bayern did not sign Wirtz: ✅ (Not yet.)
- Flick and Brazzo had a blow-up argument about Wirtz: ❌ (Denied, but “lying is a harsh word.” )
- Brazzo slamming the door on Wirtz led to Flick leaving: ❌
- Matthäus filling in the blanks and not minding what the headlines would imply: mourinho_if_i_speak.jpg
What do you think happened? Are there any more sequels left in this saga?
