A report by AS claims that Real have not given up on Leverkusen midfielder Wirtz and have now entered the race to reunite him with his former manager, Xabi Alonso.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Liverpool are currently the front-runners for Wirtz’s signature; however, just a few weeks ago, they were not in contention. At that time, it was a three-way battle between German giants Bayern Munich, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, and Real. In April, Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro set a €150 million asking price for the midfielder, which led City to pull out of the race. Bayern president Herbert Hainer also revealed in an interview with Abendzeitung (via AS), a Munich-based media outlet, that Wirtz is on his way to Liverpool. However, with Xabi Alonso now appointed as Real Madrid manager, the Spanish club are making a renewed effort to secure his services.
DID YOU KNOW?
Wirtz was recovering from a torn cruciate ligament when Alonso arrived at Leverkusen in October 2022. Under his tutelage, the 22-year-old found the form of his life and went on to score 18 and 16 goals in two successive seasons.
AFP
WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?
After a dismal 2024-25 season, Real will now shift focus to the FIFA Club World Cup, which is set to commence on 14 June.