🔴 Didi Hamann Claims Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz Could Be Loaned to Real Madrid in January
Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar “Didi” Hamann has sparked debate by suggesting that Florian Wirtz, the club’s record signing, could be loaned to Real Madrid as early as January.
Wirtz joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in a high-profile summer transfer but has struggled to fully adapt under new manager Arne Slot. Despite his slow start at Anfield, reports continue to link the German international with a potential move to Spain — and Hamann believes a short-term switch is not out of the question.
Speaking to ESportsBets (via GOAL), Hamann noted that high-value players being loaned out — once almost unheard of — has become a modern reality. He cited Philippe Coutinho’s loan move from Barcelona to Bayern Munich as a key precedent.
“In the past, top players weren’t loaned — that was for squad players not getting minutes,” Hamann explained. “It probably started with Coutinho. He went to Barcelona for about £140 million, and just a year later he was loaned to Bayern. In football today, nothing can be ruled out.”
Hamann added that Real Madrid could already be keeping close tabs on the 21-year-old.
“It’s been reported that Xabi Alonso has asked Madrid to monitor Wirtz at Liverpool, and that wouldn’t surprise me. Wirtz was the heartbeat of Leverkusen alongside Granit Xhaka — they won the league and the cup together. He’s far too talented to fail at Liverpool, but after ten or so games, anything is possible.”
The former Germany international drew historical parallels to Juan Sebastián Verón, who joined Manchester United with huge expectations but lasted only a single season.
“Football is unpredictable,” Hamann said. “The next few weeks will tell us more. If Madrid are watching, a move could happen.”
Tactical Transition: From Leverkusen Star to Liverpool Struggler
Wirtz’s slow adaptation at Liverpool can largely be attributed to the tactical shift between Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen and Arne Slot’s system.
At Leverkusen, Wirtz operated as the creative hub — a left-sided No.10 in a 3-4-2-1 formation, supported by Xhaka and given total freedom to dictate play, drift between lines, and produce his trademark incisive passes.
At Liverpool, however, his role has changed drastically. He’s no longer the focal point of possession, his touches per 90 minutes have dropped, and Slot’s system demands greater defensive pressing and positional discipline. The increased physical intensity of the Premier League has also been a challenge, with Wirtz often finding himself outmuscled in duels — a common hurdle for technical players arriving from the Bundesliga.
Still a World-Class Talent
Despite the adjustment period, few doubt Wirtz’s potential. At just 21, he remains regarded as one of the most gifted attacking midfielders in Europe. It’s no surprise, then, that Real Madrid and other elite clubs continue to monitor his situation closely.
Whether Wirtz finds his rhythm at Liverpool or seeks a temporary reset elsewhere, the coming months could define the next chapter of his young but already high-profile career.
