The player was convinced that he would end up at the Santiago Bernabéu, but an offer came that was completely impossible to refuse.
German youngster Florian Wirtz broke through on the football scene as one of the greatest talents of his generation. His €125 million move to Liverpool last summer took the whole of Europe by surprise, especially after it was revealed that his original desire was to wear the white shirt. Fernando Carro, CEO of Bayer Leverkusen, recently confirmed that if Real Madrid had made a formal offer, Wirtz would have chosen the Santiago Bernabéu without hesitation.
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The deal never came to fruition, and the white team let one of the continent’s most promising football talents slip through their fingers. Today, that decision is seen as one of the biggest missed opportunities in the last transfer window.
Florian Wirtz’s frustrated desire and Real Madrid’s silence
As reported by the newspaper AS, people around the player were clear: his priority was to remain part of Xabi Alonso’s sporting project, the coach who elevated him to stardom at Bayer Leverkusen. Under his guidance, Wirtz developed an unusual football maturity for his age, combining creativity, tactical understanding and a great ability to interact.
According to Fernando Carro, Wirtz would have chosen Real Madrid if the Spanish club had made an attempt. However, in Valdebebas they chose not to act, on the grounds that the squad already had enough attacking midfielders. The lack of decision allowed Liverpool to get in with an offer that was impossible to refuse.
The result was a double blow: Real Madrid lost a future gem, and Liverpool acquired a media sensation that is now trying to adapt to English football.
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Florian Wirtz faces the challenges of the Premier League
Since his arrival at Liverpool, Wirtz has gone fourteen games without scoring a goal or providing assists. In the Premier League, where the demands are immediate and the margin for error is minimal, adaptation is proving to be more challenging than expected.
Coach Arne Slot has asked for patience and highlighted the German’s quality and intelligence, even though in the ‘red’ environment there are already demands for concrete results. The media pressure and internal competition – with the likes of Szoboszlai, Mac Allister and Curtis Jones – doesn’t make the break-in process any easier for him.
In addition, the physical and high-tempo style of English football contrasts with the Bundesliga’s more measured and tactical pace. Florian Wirtz, who is used to managing the game calmly, learns that in England, transitions are key and that breaks are often punished.
What would have happened if Real Madrid had acted?
The question has been hanging in the air for weeks: how would Wirtz have performed at Real Madrid? Under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, the German reached his footballing peak, and many believe that connection would have made landing at the Bernabéu easier.
The personal bond between them is evident, and Carro hinted that the player’s desire to work with his former coach is still intact. With Real Madrid already planning a midfield revamp, it’s not unreasonable to think that their paths could cross again in the future.
The fact is that the white team missed the chance to add a different profile: a creative attacking midfielder with goals and playmaking ability, exactly the kind of player who tends to make history in Chamartín.
Florian Wirtz’s future and the lesson for Real Madrid
Wirtz’s immediate challenge is to adapt to the Premier League, regain his confidence and prove that his talent was not just a short-lived phenomenon. Liverpool rely on his development, but the player needs to translate his quality into numbers and leadership.
For Real Madrid, this story leaves a clear lesson: the transfer market does not wait. Opportunities that are missed today can turn into regret tomorrow. Wirtz represented an investment for both the present and the future, and his loss underscores the importance of acting quickly.
Finally, the history of the summer shows that football is also decided in the offices. And that Florian Wirtz, the talent who dreamed of playing for Real Madrid, ended up in England, where he is now struggling to convince in the Premier League.
