Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz Chooses Club Over Real Madrid Amid Contract Saga

Liverpool recently secured a vital 2-0 win over Aston Villa by reinstating their trusted midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai, which sidelined new signing Florian Wirtz for the fourth time in major league games. Wirtz, who joined Liverpool in a £116 million transfer from Bayer Leverkusen, had attracted interest from top clubs including Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City. Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro revealed that Wirtz might have chosen Real Madrid if an offer had been made, especially to reunite with coach Xabi Alonso, but Madrid's transfer decisions are controlled by Florentino Perez, limiting Alonso's influence. Leverkusen were willing to break their wage structure to keep Wirtz, but the player prioritized his ambition to win the Champions League, which he felt would be difficult with Leverkusen despite their recent German championship. Wirtz’s transfer saga highlighted his personal decision-making supported by his family, and though his start at Liverpool has been slow, he has shown promise with key assists. Meanwhile, Liverpool's manager Arne Slot remains loyal to the midfield core that previously won silverware, which currently limits Wirtz's playing opportunities.