In a revealing new interview, Florian Wirtz's agent has disclosed that he actively attempted to secure a move to Real Madrid for his client last summer, before the German star ultimately joined Liverpool in a record-breaking £116 million deal. Volker Struth, representing the former Bayer Leverkusen playmaker, detailed his efforts to facilitate a reunion between Wirtz and his former Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso, who was then at the helm of Real Madrid.
Agent's Direct Pitch to Real Madrid Hierarchy
Struth explained that during the period when Wirtz's future was being debated, with Liverpool and Bayern Munich as potential destinations, he directly contacted Alonso. "I called Xabi Alonso and told him: 'You have to take the lad from Leverkusen with you to Real,'" Struth told Bild. Alonso's response redirected the agent to the club's president, Florentino Perez, prompting Struth to send a message advocating for Wirtz's talents.
"So I actually sent him a message: 'Dear Florentino, I’ve told you many times before: I have a player here whom I would highly recommend. Florian Wirtz makes every team in the world better,'" Struth recounted. Perez acknowledged the offer but referred further discussions to the club's general manager, Jose Angel Sanchez.
Real Madrid's Decision to Pass on Wirtz
Despite Struth's persistent efforts, Real Madrid opted not to pursue Wirtz during a busy transfer window that saw them acquire players like Dean Huijsen, Franco Mastantuono, Alvaro Carreras, and Trent Alexander-Arnold. "That year, it simply wasn’t the right time due to the squad and the budget," Struth added, noting that even Real Madrid's financial resources are not limitless. However, he expressed a lingering hope: "But my wish remains that Florian will play there one day."
Wirtz's transfer to Liverpool shattered the club's previous record, though it was later surpassed by Newcastle's £125 million signing of Alexander Isak. At Anfield, the 22-year-old German is viewed as a cornerstone for future squad building, despite an uneven start to his tenure on Merseyside.
Implications for Liverpool and Transfer Dynamics
The revelation that Real Madrid could have been a potential suitor may concern Liverpool fans, especially as Wirtz begins to find his form at Anfield. Memories of Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure for just £20 million last June after his contract expired loom large, highlighting the precarious nature of player retention in modern football.
Interestingly, Struth's role in Wirtz's ultimate transfer to Liverpool was somewhat ambiguous. At the time of the deal, it was alleged that Wirtz's parents, Hans and Karin, acted as his agents during negotiations with Liverpool. Following the transfer, the club denied reports that they would pay an £8.6 million fee to his parents, regardless of their influence on his career decisions.
This behind-the-scenes insight into transfer maneuvering underscores the complex interplay of agents, clubs, and family in high-stakes football deals, with Wirtz's journey serving as a prime example of the unpredictable paths players can take in their careers.
