An agent linked to Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz has revealed he contacted Real Madrid president Florentino Perez during the summer transfer window in an attempt to steer the player to the Spanish club. Volker Struth, who previously handled Wirtz's marketing, told Phrasenmaher that he urged Xabi Alonso to take the 22-year-old from Bayer Leverkusen to Real Madrid, and subsequently messaged Perez directly.
Struth said: 'I called Xabi Alonso and told him: 'You have to take the lad from Leverkusen with you to Real.' Xabi replied, 'You don't have to tell me that, you have to tell Florentino Perez.' 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.''
However, the move did not materialise due to squad and budget constraints at Real Madrid. Struth added: 'That year, it simply wasn't the right time due to the squad and the budget. Even Real Madrid's coffers aren't always overflowing. But my wish remains that Florian will play there one day.' Wirtz joined Liverpool last summer for £116 million and has recently begun to show his potential after a slow start.
Meanwhile, the father of Galatasaray right-back Roland Sallai has claimed Liverpool have made contact over a potential transfer. Tibor Sallai told Hungarian outlet Blikk: 'I know that contact has already been made through a management office. Liverpool could be such a destination, and I admit, I wouldn't be surprised if this club change happened now, in the winter.' He added that his son has 'one big step left in his career' and that a summer move is possible if a suitable offer arrives.
