Volker Struth, agent, on Florian Wirtz: “Xabi would have liked him at Real Madrid”

Volker Struth, the well-known representative of Toni Kroos, has revealed that he attempted to broker a move for Florian Wirtz to Real Madrid before the Germany international joined Liverpool in the summer of 2025. In the end, the English club paid $136 million for the Bayer Leverkusen star, preventing him from following his BayArena coach, Xabi Alonso, to the Santiago Bernabéu.

Why Real Madrid passed on Wirtz

Struth, who is not Wirtz’s agent and only handles marketing matters for him, admitted on the Phrasenmäher podcast that he tried to play his part in steering the attacking midfielder toward Madrid. “I wasn’t sufficiently involved in the proposals that were on the table. My great wish would have been to see Florian at Real Madrid, and I don’t think I’m the only one. Also because of my history with Toni and my relationship with the people in charge at Real Madrid. I think he would have done very well there,” he stressed.

Even so, he struck a measured tone: “He’s doing quite well at Liverpool now. He’s a very young player and who knows what will happen in his career.”

Call to Xabi Alonso

Struth also acknowledged that he spoke to Xabi Alonso during the decision-making process. “At the stage when it was between Bayern and Liverpool, when the transfer was being discussed, I was in contact with his parents and I called Xabi and said: ‘Listen, take the boy. Try to speak to Florentino.’”

The response, he said, was direct: “You have to speak to him yourself.” Struth did not hesitate. He sent the following message to the Madrid president: “Hello Florentino, how are you? I’ve told you several times that I have an interesting player here I’d like to recommend to you,” Struth recalled writing.

According to his account, the reply was “kind,” but not enough to open negotiations. Florentino answered: “Thank you, dear Volker. You know your advice is always very important to me. Have you spoken about this with José?” The president was referring to CEO José Ángel Sánchez.

However, Struth later learned through “other sources” that the signing “was not an issue” for the club. “Xabi would have liked to take him, but sometimes you’re not in the right place at the right time. That year he didn’t fit into the squad, the budget and everything that goes with it. Real Madrid’s coffers aren’t always full either. But I’m certain of one thing: Florian Wirtz improves any team,” Struth concluded.

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