Liverpool’s acquisition of Florian Wirtz for a sum of £116million marked a significant move during the summer transfer period, as the Reds triumphed over competitors like Bayern Munich and Manchester City to secure the services of the talented German playmaker.
This transfer briefly set a new British record, and despite the fact that the 22-year-old – who was recognized by FourFourTwo as the leading attacking midfielder in the sport – is still pursuing his first goal for Liverpool, the club remains optimistic that he will prove to be a vital asset for many years ahead.
Why Wirtz did not end up at Real Madrid
Speculation regarding Real Madrid’s interest in Wirtz was fueled by Xabi Alonso’s transition to the Bernabeu, following the Spanish manager’s notable three-year tenure at Leverkusen. During his time there, Alonso guided the team to their inaugural Bundesliga title in the club’s history, marked by an undefeated league performance in the 2023/24 season.
Wirtz experienced significant development under Alonso’s guidance, and given Madrid’s intention to sign him, such a move would undoubtedly have presented a compelling option for Wirtz. However, Carro has provided insights into why this did not materialize, as he discussed the summer transfer proceedings.
“The Wirtz family, together with Florian, were clear that contract extension was a priority,” the Leverkusen executive stated to Sport1. “In the summer transfers, we were very careful with the salary cap.
“However, we would have been willing to make an exception for Florian, in ranges that Bayer Leverkusen had never seen before. In the end, Florian decided for himself what he wanted to do. His parents advise him, and I think it’s good that they fully respect Florian’s wishes.
“He is someone who wants to win the Champions League. We thought that with this team we would have been able to go further than we did. He saw that we had won the German championship, but that winning the Champions League with Bayer Leverkusen might be more difficult.
“He certainly would have moved to Madrid had Xabi presented the offer. However, Xabi holds less influence at Madrid compared to his position with us.
“A significant strength of Xabi Alonso was his capacity to collaborate with our scouting division in determining the necessary additions to our team.
According to the insights of FourFourTwo, it may be somewhat unsettling to discover that the Reds were not Wirtz’s primary preference. However, it is advisable to approach Carro’s statements with a degree of skepticism, considering that his main focus is to appease the fans of his own club and to ensure the highest possible transfer fee for the club’s premier player.
Wirtz, who Transfermarkt estimates to have a valuation of €130 million, will currently be aiming to build momentum while at Liverpool. While he is yet to contribute directly to a goal in his initial ten Premier League appearances, he did secure two assists in his most recent Champions League match, during which the Reds prevailed over Eintracht Frankfurt with a score of 5-1.
Nevertheless, he is scheduled to reunite with Alonso in the current week, when Real Madrid is slated to visit Anfield for a Champions League match on Tuesday night.
