Real Madrid suffer major setback as top midfield target reaches agreement with German giants | OneFootball

Florian Wirtz seems to have made up his mind, and it is not good news for Real Madrid. According to a report from AS, the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker has already reached a verbal agreement with Bayern Munich.

Despite recent comments from Xabi Alonso suggesting Wirtz’s future was still open, it now appears that the 22-year-old has eyes only for the Bavarians.

Wirtz has reportedly decided not to renew his contract with Leverkusen and is not entertaining offers from other top clubs, including Real Madrid and Manchester City.

His main goal is to play for Bayern Munich, and both parties are working to make that happen soon.

Real Madrid lose ground

While Real Madrid have been tracking Wirtz for a while, this decision shifts the focus back to the Bernabeu. The club is building for the future with young talents, but missing out on Wirtz shows that competition for Europe’s top players is fierce.

Madrid’s interest was real, but Bayern’s early move, combined with Wirtz’s desire to stay in Germany, turned the tide.

Real Madrid are set to miss out on Florian Wirtz. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Interestingly, there are two possible timelines for this transfer. Bayern could try to bring Wirtz in this summer, which is what both he and the club reportedly prefer.

But if Leverkusen and Bayern don’t agree on the fee, the move might be delayed until 2026. In that case, Bayern would hope to lower the price, currently estimated at around €100 million, knowing that Wirtz would only have one year left on his contract by 2026.

Leverkusen not in a hurry to sell

Meanwhile, Simon Rolfes, Leverkusen’s sporting director, has tried to calm the speculation. He recently stated that Wirtz still has two years on his contract and that the club is not rushing into a decision.

“With Flo, there are several possibilities. Many clubs are very interested in him. But one option is also that he stays with us. He has a contract for two more years, which means we don’t have to force a decision.”

Still, with Jonathan Tah and Xabi Alonso already on their way out, Leverkusen may soon lose another key figure.

For Real Madrid, this is a setback, but not a disaster. The club has many options and a clear vision. While Wirtz may not be heading to the Spanish capital, the hunt for the next great talent continues at full speed.