Leverkusen CEO drops transfer hint: Florian Wirtz would join Real Madrid if Xabi calls

Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro has revealed that Florian Wirtz would have “definitely” joined Real Madrid had the club made an offer, adding that if Xabi Alonso had placed the call, Wirtz “would’ve been there.” It’s a rare, on-record admission that aligns with Madrid’s long-term talent strategy and Wirtz’s profile as Europe’s most complete attacking midfielder of his generation. With Real Madrid stacked yet always ruthless in elite recruitment, the door is clearly ajar. Reading between the lines, timing and price are the only variables left. The football fit? As close to perfect as it gets for the Bernabéu.

In a recent public comment, Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro stated that Florian Wirtz would have joined Real Madrid if an official proposal had arrived, emphasizing Xabi Alonso’s unique influence on the player’s decision. The remarks land after Wirtz’s breakout title-winning season under Xabi, where his end-product and creativity made him the Bundesliga’s most decisive attacker. Real Madrid, meanwhile, continue to build a generational core around young superstars while maintaining financial power for a marquee addition when the market window aligns. Carro’s admission strongly suggests Madrid were in position—only the formal bid and timing were missing.

🗣️ Fernando Carro, Leverkusen CEO: “Florian Wirtz would’ve definitely joined Real Madrid if they made an offer. If Xabi made that offer, Wirtz would’ve been there.”

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

Carro’s candid line changes the temperature of the market. When a CEO concedes that a player of Wirtz’s caliber would have accepted Real Madrid, the debate shifts from “if” to “when.” On the pitch, the fit is seamless. Wirtz thrives in the right half-space, receiving on the half-turn, stitching tight triangles, and detonating the final third with disguised through-balls and late-area arrivals. Madrid’s evolving box-midfield often asks for a right-sided interior/10 who can alternate between creator and finisher alongside Jude Bellingham and the elite pace up front.

Concerns about minutes are overstated. Madrid’s competitive calendar demands a 16–18 man core; the drop-off in elite creation when rotations hit has been evident across intense stretches. With veteran legs gradually phasing out and the club’s commitment to positionally fluid attackers, Wirtz becomes the bridge between control and incision. Financially, Leverkusen are tough but pragmatic sellers; market logic says a nine-figure move, structured with installments and achievable add-ons, is viable for Madrid’s wage and amortization model.

Finally, Xabi Alonso’s influence matters. Even if he remains in Germany for now, his endorsement and tactical schooling of Wirtz lower integration risk. This is precisely how Madrid minimize uncertainty: sign the right profile, already proven in a possession-pressing ecosystem, and drop him into a winning structure. Carro has effectively green-lit the pathway.

Reaction

Fan chatter split into familiar camps. One thread mocked the situation—“So we didn’t even make an offer,” a shrug to Madrid’s patience-first policy. Others leaned into the club’s pull: “Once Madrid calls, there’s no second thought,” capturing the sense that the badge decides careers. The squad-balance crowd pushed back: “We have too many players who need minutes… who gets benched?” and “I don’t see anyone he’s going to bench,” reflecting a real logjam across the attacking lanes and interiors.

There was tribal chest-beating too: “We don’t need him. We have Güler,” and even a cheeky comparison dismissing Wirtz versus internal talent. Another angle praised the revelation itself—“Interesting admission. Shows how much influence Xabi has,” highlighting that the coach-player bond could be decisive. In essence, Madridistas are torn between luxury and necessity: they respect Wirtz’s ceiling but fear disrupting a winning chemistry.

Yet beneath the noise lies a clear trend—supporters recognize that elite squads are built on ruthless upgrades. If a generational creator is available and willing, Madrid traditionally act. The comments ultimately read less like rejection and more like nervous energy about what a move would mean for current favorites.

Social reactions

Meaning we didn’t even make an offer😭😂

canto_21 (@Kelcanto)

Loserpool can have 007

post.master.general (@fightingdest)

Well, we thank God we didn't.

Brook (@BrookRMA)

Prediction

Expect a long-game approach from Madrid with decisive movement in a summer window when three conditions align: a major outgoing (or natural phase-out) in midfield, Leverkusen’s green light on price structure, and Wirtz’s own timing after another peak campaign. A package north of €120m, with layered add-ons tied to trophies and appearances, matches both the player’s status and Madrid’s cash-flow discipline.

Tactically, Madrid will sell the vision of Wirtz as a right-sided interior/10 toggling with Bellingham, maintaining a dual-creator setup to feed their star forwards. Training data and minutes modeling will support the pitch: between LaLiga, Champions League, and cups, there is room for 3,500+ high-leverage minutes without breaking the rotation ecosystem.

Xabi Alonso’s role is the X-factor. Whether he remains at Leverkusen or not, his endorsement of Madrid and the player’s trust in his pathway carry weight. Should Xabi ever take the Bernabéu hot seat in the medium term, the Wirtz deal becomes almost inevitable. If he stays in Germany, Madrid will still push—the fit is too clean, and the player’s ceiling is too high to ignore. Timeline forecast: serious talks within the next major window, with a 12–18 month horizon to completion.

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Conclusion

Carro’s statement isn’t casual—it’s a signal. It tells us Wirtz is Madrid material, willing and ready when the call becomes formal. The fit is football-first: press resistance, chance creation, and final-third clarity that plugs straight into Madrid’s modern shape. The squad-depth debate is healthy, but elite teams don’t freeze for fear of choice; they create internal competition and raise the standard.

Leverkusen will demand a champion’s fee, and rightly so. Madrid, historically, step up when the profile is perfect and the player’s will aligns. From my vantage point, having lived the dressing-room calculus, this is the kind of move that preserves a dynasty’s edge. The road has been marked out in plain view—Wirtz to Madrid isn’t a question of desire. It’s timing.