Bayer Leverkusen Chief Drops Florian Wirtz, Real Madrid Bombshell

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Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro revealed Florian Wirtz would person chosen Real Madrid complete Liverpool if nan Spanish giants came knocking.

Wirtz, who played a pivotal domiciled successful helping Bayer Leverkusen triumph their first-ever Bundesliga title successful 2023–24, opted to time off nan nine this summertime and join Liverpool successful a woody worthy up to €136.3 cardinal (£116.1 million, $157.8 million), a then-British transfer record.

Yet Carro claims nan move would person ne'er happened had his erstwhile head Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid travel to nan array pinch a actual connection for Wirtz.

“[Wirtz] is personification who wants to triumph nan Champions League,” Carro said connected SPORT1’s Dopplepass. “He saw that we had won nan Bundesliga title, but winning nan Champions League pinch Bayer Leverkusen mightiness beryllium much difficult.

“He would decidedly person gone to Madrid if Xabi had made nan offer. But Xabi has little opportunity astatine Madrid than he does pinch us.”

Instead of vying for immoderate of Alonso’s erstwhile Bayer Leverkusen players, Real Madrid signed Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Álvaro Carreras and Franco Mastantuono arsenic they prosecute their 16th Champions League title nether nan activity of their erstwhile player.

Wirtz, meanwhile, joined nan defending English champions on pinch ex-Bayer Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong.

Florian Wirtz is still seeking his first extremity successful a reddish shirt. / Ralf Ibing/firo sportphoto/Getty Images

The timing of Carro’s connection coincides pinch Liverpool and Real Madrid’s highly anticipated Champions League conflict connected Tuesday, Nov. 4.

For nan first clip successful his career, Wirtz will look disconnected pinch nan nine he apparently wanted to subordinate complete nan nine he will correspond astatine Anfield. The German world will dream to make a connection capacity aft a slow commencement successful a reddish shirt.

Through 14 appearances, Wirtz has yet to people a extremity for Liverpool. The midfielder has recorded conscionable 3 assists since his transfer, and 2 came successful a 5–1 rout complete Frankfurt.

Arne Slot moreover constricted his blockbuster summertime signing to substitute appearances successful marquee matches against Chelsea, Manchester United and Aston Villa. The Reds only won nan latter, breaking a four-game losing streak successful nan Premier League.

All eyes will beryllium connected Wirtz’s capacity erstwhile he clashes pinch nan Spanish giants successful what is poised to beryllium 1 of nan biggest matches of nan Champions League convention phase.