Nathan Tella says he isn’t surprised Liverpool pursued his former Bayer Leverkusen teammate Florian Wirtz, calling the midfielder "brilliant" and expressing hope for his happiness, regardless of where he lands.
Speaking, Tella reflected on two seasons alongside Wirtz at Leverkusen:
"As a player he’s brilliant… each day I could just see this guy is unbelievable… I hope he’s happy with whatever decision he makes, but we will support him regardless."
bet9ja.com
Wirtz, previously courted by Bayern and Manchester City, has agreed personal terms with Liverpool, with the English champions now working toward finalising the transfer. Tella’s praise highlights Wirtz’s exceptional talent and underlines the strong bond forged between the pair at Leverkusen.
bet9ja.com
Editorial
We believe Nathan Tella’s words reflect both genuine admiration and a professional maturity that extends beyond footballing rivalries. a peer’s brilliance is a sign of deep respect especially when that peer is stepping onto a grander stage like Liverpool.
bet9ja.com
Tella’s message "we will support him regardless" speaks to the camaraderie within teams and the emotional bonds that form behind the scenes. Wirtz’s journey from Leverkusen to Liverpool is headline-grabbing, but Tella’s public endorsement adds a human element to the narrative talent recognised, friendship sustained.
For Nigerian football, it's a proud moment. Tella standing alongside Wirtz at Europe’s top table reflects their shared background and shared growth. Their trajectory hints at a new generation of Nigerians making waves across majors clubs, not just in terms of individual success but collective impact.
bit.ly
We feel this celebration of a teammate's success highlights something essential: football’s strength lies in community, and when players lift each other, everyone rises. Tella’s support sets a tone one of unity and mutual belief—what fans now need is the on-field magic these players have been promising.
Did You Know?
Tella joined Leverkusen in 2023 for around £20 million from Southampton and played 51 games, scoring 7 goals across Bundesliga and Europe.
He was instrumental in Leverkusen’s 2023–24 Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double, featuring 39 times in all competitions.
As a youth, Tella was part of Arsenal's academy before moving to Southampton in 2017.
At 25, he has already been capped twice by Nigeria’s Super Eagles after switching allegiance in 2023.
Known for his unwavering loyalty, Tella is reportedly happy at Leverkusen despite transfer speculation and may appear at next month’s Unity Cup with Nigeria.