As reported by El Nacional, the highly talented German midfielder Florian Wirtz—who has long been a target for FC Barcelona and was even personally selected by their soon-to-be head coach Hansi Flick—is now nearing a transfer to their fierce rivals, Real Madrid.
Despite growing up with dreams of playing at Camp Nou and idolizing Lionel Messi, Wirtz is reportedly engaged in conversations with several top clubs, and Real Madrid is currently leading the race to secure his signature.
What Has Shifted Recently?
Wirtz’s stance on leaving his current club, Bayer Leverkusen, has changed significantly.
Last summer, he was determined to stay, but now he appears open to the idea of a transfer.
Leverkusen, who remain firm on their €100 million valuation of the player, are still holding out for a substantial fee.
However, Real Madrid seems willing to meet this high price tag.
Meanwhile, Barcelona finds itself in a difficult position. The club is already saturated with midfield talent, including Pedri, Gavi, Fermín López, and Dani Olmo.
As a result, they cannot offer Wirtz the guaranteed starting role that he would likely receive elsewhere.
Real Madrid’s Key Advantage
One major factor working in Madrid’s favor is the potential appointment of Xabi Alonso—Wirtz’s current coach at Bayer Leverkusen—as their next manager.
Should this happen, it would provide a significant boost to their chances, as Alonso’s presence would offer Wirtz both familiarity and continuity in his development.
There is also the prospect of Wirtz becoming the long-term successor to Luka Modrić in Madrid’s midfield.
He could partner with Jude Bellingham to form a dynamic and dominant midfield duo, ushering in a new golden era for Los Blancos.
Barça’s Realization
Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, has reportedly advised Hansi Flick to abandon the pursuit of Wirtz, acknowledging that the chances of completing the transfer are dwindling rapidly.
At the same time, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez is rumored to be considering parting ways with current coach Carlo Ancelotti in order to bring in Xabi Alonso—further strengthening their hand in this high-stakes transfer saga.
A Summer Showdown
This situation is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic and impactful transfer battles of the upcoming summer window.
If things continue on their current trajectory, Real Madrid could be just a few decisive moves away from pulling off a major coup in the heart of their midfield.
