Former Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov says Liverpool midfielder reminded him of Luka Modric

Former Tottenham and Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has offered glowing support for Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz, sensationally comparing the German star to Spurs and Real Madrid legend Luka Modric.

Berbatov’s comments come amid growing scrutiny over Wirtz’s start to life at Anfield following his record £116million summer move from Bayer Leverkusen.

Berbatov calls for patience with Florian Wirtz and compares him to Luka Modric

Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the Bulgarian star urged patience for the 22-year-old, whose first spell in the Premier League saw him fail to score a goal or assist in the domestic competition.

He said: “I love him. He’s a fantastic player. He’ll be amazing, believe me. I hope he’s patient. I hope he has good people around him, an agent, a family, whatever. I hope the coach sees his quality the way everyone sees him. I’m sure everyone sees his quality, and they’ll give him the time he needs to integrate into the team. And I guarantee he’ll succeed.”

Berbatov then compared the German to Luka Modric. He defended Wirtz’s relatively slight build, often cited as a physical concern in the Premier League.

“The way he sees football, how he looks for space, how he knows how to position himself, the touches of the ball, the improvisation, the sense of passing and goals,” he explained.

“Of course, someone can say that his physique is not that good for the Premier League. But then you can easily see the big players in his position, like Modric, also of the same build. Modric. F****** monster. It’s incredible. So give him time. I think he’s going to be incredible for Liverpool.”

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Luka Modric’s Premier League legacy at Tottenham shows why Wirtz can succeed

Luka Modric’s time in the Premier League with Tottenham remains one of the most memorable chapters of his brilliant career.

The Croatian maestro joined Spurs from Dinamo Zagreb in the summer of 2008 for around £16.5 million. He arrived as a highly-rated playmaker but questioned whether his slight frame could withstand the physical demands of English football. It didn’t take long for Modric to silence his critics.

Initially deployed in a more advanced midfield role, Modric truly flourished once Harry Redknapp placed him in a deeper position, allowing him to dictate the pace of matches.

His exceptional vision, technical precision and ability to control games from midfield quickly made him the heart of Tottenham’s system.

Modric’s passing range and composure under pressure brought a new level of sophistication to Spurs’ play, traits rarely seen in English football at the time.

For Wirtz to draw comparisons to a player of Modric’s caliber is a huge compliment and a testament to his natural talent. Many in the football world, including former professionals and current players, believe Wirtz will ultimately thrive at Liverpool once he adapts to the pace and intensity of the Premier League.

However, his slow start has already sparked speculation over his future at Anfield, with some reports linking him with potential interest from abroad.

Yet, as Berbatov points out, Wirtz’s technical genius, creativity, and intelligence make him far too talented to fail in the long run.

However, the slow start has sparked speculation over his future with the Reds.