Agent comments on Florian Wirtz transfer and Real Madrid text messages

Liverpool signed Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, with the likes of Real Madrid and Man City long having tracked the $157 million (£116 million) German

Florian Wirtz signed for Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen.(Image: Lewis Storey/Getty Images)

German sports agent Volker Struth has claimed he tried to convince Real Madrid to sign attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz before his eventual transfer to Liverpool last summer.

The Reds managed a significant coup when Wirtz turned down offers from Bayern Munich and Manchester City, opting instead for a $157 million (£116 million) switch to Anfield from Bayer Leverkusen.

After a challenging start at Liverpool, the 22-year-old has emerged as a crucial player for Arne Slot's team. He has scored six goals and produced five assists since the beginning of December and was missed against Nottingham Forest when he was injured.

Real Madrid appointed the former Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso in the summer, and rumor had it that the Spaniard wanted to take Wirtz with him. The pair had worked well together in Germany.

And agent Struth has shed light on how he personally reached out to Real Madrid's president, Florentino Perez, to propose a move to the Bernabeu for the Germany talisman.

"During the period when a move to Liverpool or Bayern was being discussed, I called Xabi Alonso and told him: 'You have to take the lad from Leverkusen with you to Real'," he said.

Liverpool attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)

"Xabi replied: 'You don't have to tell me that, you have to tell Florentino Perez'. So I actually sent him a message: 'Dear Florentino, I've told you many times before: I have a player here whom I would highly recommend'.

"Real were better in the past than they are now. And it's quite clear: Florian Wirtz makes every team in the world better."

Manchester City and Bayern Munich were very keen on Wirtz but he chose Liverpool after being convinced on the move by Arne Slot.

That year, it simply wasn't the right time due to the squad and the budget," Struth, speaking on the Phrasenmaher podcast, continued. "Even Real Madrid's coffers aren't always overflowing.

"I wasn't deeply enough involved in the offers that were on the table. My greatest wish, of course, would have been to have Florian at Real Madrid to see — and I don't think I'm alone in that.

"Also, because of my history with Toni Kroos, because of my relationship with those in charge at Real Madrid, I also think he would be in very good hands there. He's doing quite well in Liverpool now. He's a very young player and who knows what might happen in his career."

Liverpool.com says: While Wirtz will be linked with a move elsewhere in the future, a bit like Dominik Szoboszlai and links with Real Madrid that have emerged lately, it is simply a sign of the talent the Reds have snapped up.

Why wouldn't Real Madrid want to sign the best players in the world? Wirtz is one of those (as is Szoboszlai) and both have shown it in the last few weeks.