Florian Wirtz’s Slow Liverpool Start Sparks Real Madrid Interest
Florian Wirtz’s underwhelming start at Liverpool has reportedly drawn the attention of Real Madrid, according to Spanish media. The German playmaker, who joined the Reds for a hefty £116 million fee, could be set for a reunion with former Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso — who is said to have instructed Madrid officials to closely monitor the situation in case Liverpool decide to sell.
Wirtz made a bright early impression, providing an assist in the Community Shield, but has since failed to register a goal or assist in nine Premier League and Champions League appearances. While Liverpool’s attack began the season strongly, three straight defeats have stalled their momentum and raised questions about consistency.
The 21-year-old was dropped from the starting lineup in Liverpool’s recent 2–1 loss to Chelsea but impressed after coming on for Conor Bradley. Cody Gakpo’s equaliser offered brief hope before Estevao’s late strike sealed defeat for Arne Slot’s side — a result that saw them slip from the top of the Premier League ahead of the international break.
Meanwhile, Alonso’s Real Madrid responded to their first domestic setback of the season with a win over Villarreal, regaining top spot in La Liga following Barcelona’s loss to Sevilla. Reports in Spain suggest Alonso remains a strong admirer of Wirtz and has asked Madrid’s hierarchy to keep tabs on his situation at Anfield.
Following the defeat at Stamford Bridge, Slot admitted Liverpool are still finding their rhythm after a summer of transition:
“If you play a high press against a team like Chelsea, who also press high, it’s unrealistic to think they won’t play through it at times,” Slot said. “Even with their injuries, they had strong options from the bench to change the game.”
Alonso, on the other hand, was satisfied with Madrid’s recovery but expressed concern over new injury issues. Both Kylian Mbappé and Franco Mastantuono were substituted late in their victory, prompting the Spaniard to clarify:
“Kylian felt some discomfort in his ankle, and Franco has a hamstring problem. We’ll evaluate them with their national teams to see if they’re fit to play.”
With Wirtz struggling to make an impact in England and Alonso eyeing potential reinforcements in Madrid, the young midfielder’s future could quickly become one of the transfer stories to watch as the season unfolds.
