Liverpool star Florian Wirtz has been linked with Real Madrid just months after joining the Reds
Speculation that Real Madrid are giving serious thought to raiding Liverpool for Florian Wirtz in January has been given significant further weight by a former Barcelona star – but sources have underlined why the latest crazy suggestion simply does not have legs.
The Premier League champions blew the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich aside this summer when paying a British record fee of £116m to bring Wirtz to Anfield – a record that ultimately stood for just 73 days after Liverpool later signed Alexander Isak for £125m from Newcastle.
While Liverpool’s raid on Bayer Leverkusen for the Germany playmaker was hailed by Premier League audiences at the time, there were some unsavoury comments to have emerged from the Bayern Munich end after they missed out on a deal.
However, Wirtz has not exactly hit the ground running at Anfield. And while he assisted a goal for Hugo Ektike in the Community Shield defeat on penalties to Crystal Palace, he has since gone nine games without a goal or assist to his name.
Having also been dropped from the starting line-up by Arne Slot for their most recent match – a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea – speculation over Wirtz’s future at Anfield has intensified.
Bizarrely, a report on Friday suggested Real Madrid have been keeping a close eye on his progress with an eye on a potential rescue mission in 2026.
Now, those reports have been given further weight by Emmanuel Petit after the former Arsenal and Barcelona star claimed Xavi Alonso is ready to make a move to sign Wirtz on loan in January.
“I heard that Xabi Alonso wants Real Madrid to keep an eye on Florian Wirtz ahead of a possible loan in January, that’s how much he respects him as a player,” Petit told BoyleSports.
“Alonso knows his quality, many players in Germany have also defended him. Wirtz recently stated in the press that he isn’t panicking.
“He knows his quality and believes that sooner or later, it will show on the pitch.
“I hope for his sake it does, because if it doesn’t, it will be very difficult for him to cope with the pressure and criticism.”