La Liga champions Real Madrid reportedly lead the race to sign 21-year-old German international Florian Wirtz next summer.
According to a report by German outlet BILD, Florian Wirtz is the subject of interest from Real Madrid. The Bayer Leverkusen attacker is a target for the who’s who of European football, although a move will not materialise before the 2025 summer transfer window. Meanwhile, the Bundesliga champions will demand around €150 million to part ways with the 21-year-old.
The rise and rise of Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz has established himself as one of the best players in the Bundesliga since joining Bayer Leverkusen from FC Koln in January 2020. The fourth-youngest Bundesliga debutant ever, the German international made his Bayer Leverkusen bow as a 17-year-old.
Since then, the youngster has come leaps and bounds, establishing himself as a pivotal figure for his club and country. The 21-year-old has bounced back from a gruelling long-term knee injury to enjoy an exceptional 2023/24 campaign. Wirtz amassed 18 goals and 20 assists in 49 outings across all competitions.
The German playmaker was instrumental in guiding Bayer Leverkusen to a historic 2023/24 campaign where they lost only one game while lifting the DFB Pokal and the Bundesliga title. He also won the Bundesliga Player of the Year award. Meanwhile, Wirtz’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe, including Real Madrid.
Real Madrid interested in Wirtz
Real Madrid’s interest in Florian Wirtz is understandable. The Merengues are losing Toni Kroos this summer, with the legendary playmaker calling time on his storied career. In addition, Luka Modric is in the twilight of his playing days and might follow Kroos into retirement in a year or two.
So, it behoves Real Madrid to prepare for Modric’s departure, bringing Wirtz into the picture. The latest update has claimed that the reigning La Liga champions are the front-runners to sign the 21-year-old. However, the move will not materialise this summer. Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen will demand around €150 million to part ways with the German international.
The report has claimed that Wirtz and Xabi Alonso might both swap Bayer Leverkusen for Real Madrid in 2025. However, it will be interesting to see if other suitors can beat Los Blancos to the duo next summer.
