Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro has suggested that Florian Wirtz might have chosen Real Madrid ahead of Liverpool if the Spanish giants had shown concrete interest during the summer transfer window.

Wirtz, who was instrumental in Leverkusen’s historic Bundesliga title triumph in the 2023–24 season, completed a blockbuster move to Liverpool earlier this year. The deal, reportedly worth up to €136.3 million (£116.1 million), set a new British transfer record at the time.

However, according to Carro, the outcome could have been different had Xabi Alonso — Wirtz’s former manager at Leverkusen — and Real Madrid made a serious approach.

“Florian is ambitious and dreams of winning the Champions League,” Carro explained during an appearance on SPORT1’s Doppelpass. “He knew achieving that goal with Leverkusen would be more challenging. If Madrid and Xabi had made a concrete offer, I think he would have gone there. But Xabi’s influence at Madrid isn’t the same as it is here.”

Despite speculation linking Alonso’s former players with moves to the Spanish capital, Real Madrid pursued other transfer priorities. The European champions strengthened their squad with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Álvaro Carreras, and young Argentine prospect Franco Mastantuono, as they continue their pursuit of a record-extending 16th Champions League title.

Meanwhile, Wirtz has already begun his new chapter in England, joining forces with Jeremie Frimpong, another former Leverkusen teammate, at Liverpool. The duo’s arrival has injected fresh energy into the Premier League champions as they look to defend their domestic crown and compete strongly in Europe.