In a surprising revelation, Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro has claimed that Florian Wirtz would have chosen a move to Real Madrid over Liverpool this past summer, if the opportunity had presented itself.
Wirtz, the creative force behind Leverkusen’s historic Bundesliga title, completed a big money transfer to Liverpool for a fee that could rise to €136.3 million. However, Carro suggests the German international’s heart was elsewhere.
“[Wirtz] is a player with the ambition to win the Champions League,” Carro stated. “He saw that we had won the Bundesliga title, but to win the Champions League with Bayer Leverkusen might be more difficult. He would definitely have gone to Madrid if Xabi [Alonso] had made the offer.”
Carro also hinted at the different power dynamics at the two clubs, noting that Alonso “has less say at Madrid than he does with us.”
While Real Madrid pursued other transfer targets, Wirtz ended up at Anfield alongside his former teammate Jeremie Frimpong, but his start to life in England has been far from smooth.
The timing of Carro’s comments is striking, as Wirtz is now preparing for his first-ever career match against the club he apparently favored. His integration into the Liverpool squad has been slow; through 14 appearances, he is yet to score a goal and has only managed three assists.
Manager Arne Slot has even deemed him not ready for a starting role in major fixtures, using him as a substitute against top sides like Chelsea and Manchester United. This sets the stage for a high-pressure narrative, as all eyes will be on Wirtz to see if he can finally justify his price tag against the very team he dreamed of joining.