Florian Wirtz, the 21-year-old midfielder from Pulheim, Germany, is drawing closer to a potential transfer to Real Madrid with each passing day. The Bayer Leverkusen star, regarded as one of the most promising talents in European soccer, has been on Madrid’s radar for some time as a potential successor to 39-year-old Luka Modric.

German journalist Florian Plettenberg of Sky TV was the first to break the news about Madrid’s serious interest in Wirtz, sharing on X that Los Blancos are closely following the German playmaker. Plettenberg also reported that Manchester City, who are also vying for Wirtz’s signature, has been notified of Real Madrid’s intentions.

Discussions have already begun, say reports

According to Plettenberg, discussions between Real Madrid and Wirtz’s representatives have already begun. However, no agreement has been reached with Bayer Leverkusen, who hope to keep their star or possibly extend his contract, which currently runs until 2027. Wirtz’s father, Hans-Joachim, who also serves as his agent, will ultimately decide if and when the transfer will happen.

An additional factor favoring Real Madrid is Leverkusen’s openness to selling Wirtz to Madrid rather than their domestic rivals, Bayern Munich. Leverkusen’s general manager, Fernando Carro, has previously stated that the club would not entertain offers below €150 million for their prized talent. Wirtz, one of Germany’s breakout stars in the last European Championship, currently earns around €10 million gross per season.

Real Madrid’s interest in Wirtz dates back to his early career, when he transitioned to Cologne in 2018 before joining Leverkusen. At just 17 years and 15 days old, he became the youngest player to debut for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, marking his first appearance in a 4-1 victory over Werder Bremen in May 2020. His development accelerated significantly with the arrival of coach Xabi Alonso, a former Real Madrid player, which could further facilitate the potential transfer.

Madrid’s negotiation strategy, led by head of recruitment Juni Calafat, is typically conducted with utmost discretion. One advantage for Madrid is that both the club and Wirtz share a partnership with Adidas, a brand that has played a role in previous Madrid signings, including Zinedine Zidane in 2001 and Jude Bellingham in 2023.

German soccer legends have also weighed in on Wirtz’s potential. Michael Ballack commented, “In terms of skill, Wirtz could definitely play for Madrid. Just look at Bellingham: playing with top players brings out even more talent.” Michael Reschke, another influential figure in German soccer, echoed this sentiment, saying, “While Bayern is one of Europe’s top five clubs, it’s clear that Wirtz has his sights set on Real Madrid.”