Bastian Schweinsteiger has delivered a ringing endorsement of Florian Wirtz, urging Liverpool to make the German playmaker the focal point of their attack despite an inconsistent debut season at Anfield.
The 23-year-old arrived from Bayer Leverkusen last summer for a club-record fee, and while there have been glimpses of his undeniable talent, many supporters expected more from the midfielder across the campaign. However, the World Cup winner believes patience will be rewarded.
Speaking to Sport Bild via Bulinews, Schweinsteiger drew a bold comparison between Wirtz and Jamal Musiala and two of Germany's most iconic attacking threats of the past two decades.
"I see Wirtz and Musiala as our Ribery and Robben," the former Bayern Munich star said, likening the duo to the legendary wingers who terrorized defenses for years.
The ex-Manchester United midfielder didn't stop there. He highlighted Wirtz's creativity and vision, insisting teammates should constantly look to involve the Liverpool star.
"If I were playing with Wirtz, I would simply give him the ball as often as possible, because he needs the ball to make his game more dominant," Schweinsteiger explained.
He even pointed to a specific pass Wirtz produced for Germany against Switzerland, claiming very few players in world football can execute deliveries with that level of precision.
There's no doubt the German has shown flashes of quality this season, but too many matches have drifted by without him fully influencing proceedings. Jamie Carragher admitted after the defeat at Manchester United that Wirtz had been "poor" at Old Trafford, while suggesting Liverpool supporters have perhaps shielded him from criticism more than other players.
Even so, adaptation has played a major role. Former Liverpool defender Marcus Babbel recently explained how difficult the Premier League can be for players arriving from Germany, describing English football as "faster" and "harder."
That context feels especially relevant for Wirtz, who has often struggled to impose himself in the league's more physical, high-tempo environment. But if Schweinsteiger's advice is anything to go by, the solution is simple: just give him the ball and let his talent do the rest.