Florian Wirtz: Leverkusen star is making a MISTAKE by not waiting for Real Madrid

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 15 May 2025 08:04 CDT
• 4 min read

Analysis

Florian Wirtz is primed to make the biggest transfer of the summer, with three major clubs vying to sign the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker.

The 22-year-old is coming off the back of a couple of remarkable seasons with Xabi Alonso’s side. Although B04 have seen their Bundesliga crown slip back into the hands of Bayern, Wirtz has contributed an impressive 10 goals and 13 assists in the league, plus he netted another six in nine Champions League games.

He has already proven himself an elite performer – and that’s despite having seen a serious knee injury threaten his climb to the very top.

Current ETV

Florian Wirtz

AM (C)

Bayer 04

Florian Wirtz

AM (C)

Bayer 04

€116.4M

ETV Range

€104.8M - €128.1M

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Wirtz has had a price tag of over €100 million fixed upon him by Leverkusen, and given he has an Estimated Transfer Value of €116m, that is well justified.

Talks over personal terms have already begun with Manchester City and Liverpool, though a deal with Bayern Munich looks likeliest at present.

Florian Wirtz: Which club should he choose?

Wirtz has three of Europe’s biggest clubs hot on his tail, yet according to data analytics firm SciSports, none offer him guaranteed success.

Using its Career Advice model, which produced a rating based on a variety of factors from playing time and development to formation and style, SciSports gives teams a Club Fit score. The higher this mark, the better.

None of Bayern Munich (68), Liverpool (67) or Man City (59) score well here. SciSports has grave doubts over Wirtz’s playing time at each of these clubs, not to mention fears over his ability to adapt to a wildly different style and formation.

He might, then, be better playing it cool this summer and waiting out another season in the hope that Real Madrid reignite their interest in the Germany international.

Los Blancos would appear to offer Wirtz a far better chance of success – and at one of the biggest and most prestigious clubs in the world. Xabi Alonso’s future side have a Club Fit scorer of 79 – and that’s before Wirtz’s Bayer Leverkusen mentor gets to grips on the team. This is a mark 10 greater than any other side.

Not only would he get healthy playing time at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid offer him both a style and a formation better suited to his skillset.

Wirtz, though, is unlikely to wait for Los Blancos, even if it is to the detriment of his career.

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