REAL MADRID
Adidas push for Florian Wirtz to move to Real Madrid
The German sportswear brand is said to be keen on seeing one of their stars in the famous all-white kit of Real Madrid.
Florian Wirtz is the main star of Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen. The 20-year-old German midfielder has 8 goals and 16 assists in 30 games this season in all competitions, putting him on the radar of Europe’s top teams, and a possible transfer has been speculated upon for months.
The player, according to Bild, does not want to leave Leverkusen until 2025, so it appears unlikely any suitors will secure his signature this summer. Bayern Munich have Wirtz down as their main target, but Leverkusen do not want to sell their star player to a domestic rival. Wirtz is also very close to Xabi Alonso and would like to stay with the manager. It remains to be seen whether the Spanish coach will stay at Bayer or pack his bags this summer.
Adidas was involved in Bellingham’s move to Madrid
Given this situation, teams outside the Bundesliga have more options to sign him, but in the end it will be up to the player to decide. Adidas, his main sponsor, would like the player to sign for Real Madrid in the summer of 2025. The German brand also provides the kits and training gear for Real Madrid and, according to Bild, was already involved in Bellingham’s arrival at Madrid.
By 2025, the Spanish club could be without Kroos and Modric and Wirtz would be a promising replacement. According to the German newspaper, the player is obsessed with winning titles, so he will always look more at the sporting prospects than any economic ones.
The report says that Leverkusen are looking for a fee of €130 million for their player, who is currently worth €100 million. It is a price similar to what Real Madrid may end up paying Dortmund for Bellingham, if indeed the Englishman ends up activating all the bonuses they agreed as part of the deal.
Another team that is looking heavily at the player will undoubtedly be Manchester City, as De Bruyne’s contract expires in the summer of 2025 and, if he does not renew, the German midfielder would be one of the main options to replace him. Bayer Leverkusen do not want him to play for another side in the Bundesliga and Adidas want him to end up at Real Madrid.