Bayer Leverkusen’s Fernando Carro fires back at Hans-Joachim Watzke: “I want an exciting Bundesliga. I’m happy when more clubs make life difficult for Bayern”

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·19 July 2025

Bayer Leverkusen’s Fernando Carro fires back at Hans-Joachim Watzke: “I want an exciting Bundesliga. I’m happy when more clubs make life difficult for Bayern”

Article image:Bayer Leverkusen’s Fernando Carro fires back at Hans-Joachim Watzke: “I want an exciting Bundesliga. I’m happy when more clubs make life difficult for Bayern”

Speaking to Welt am Sonntag, Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro has fired back at Hans-Joachim Watzke, following quotes he made about Florian Wirtz.

Last month, the Dortmund CEO said:

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“It’s a real shame, especially for the DFL, that a player like Florian Wirtz is leaving the Bundesliga. I wouldn’t have had a problem at all if he had gone to FC Bayern. That would have been better for the Bundesliga. It doesn’t really matter for the national team. He’ll play at the highest level in Liverpool, too. He could have worked better with Musiala in Munich, but two such good footballers can find each other anyway.”

During the Wirtz transfer saga, Leverkusen were adamant that they would not sell to Bayern Munich, following Wirtz’s completed move to Liverpool. Carro was asked if he was happy that the 22-year-old moved to the Premier League:

“Honestly, yes. I have a different opinion than Hans-Joachim Watzke. I don’t understand how he, as the boss of Borussia Dortmund, could have been happy if Wirtz had gone to Munich. That would have made Bayern even stronger. I want an exciting Bundesliga. I’m happy when more clubs – besides us – make life difficult for Bayern, because I believe that benefits the Bundesliga.”

As some people may not like Carro for his personality or the way he works, it is refreshing to see someone who is ready and willing to stand up to Bayern and not roll over at the first time of asking, like Dortmund.

It can be argued that this type of mentality that Watzke showed in his original comment has been one of the reasons that have held die Schwarzgelben back from winning the Bundesliga in the past 13 years.

This is also becoming an increasingly common occurrence in the Bundesliga, as Stuttgart is a prime example, continuing to be firm in their pursuit of the Bundesliga champions’ interest in striker Nick Woltemade.

GGFN | Jack Meenan