The future of international Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen has been the subject of intense speculation for some time, particularly in connection with the possible future of his coach Xabi Alonso. Amidst the rumours, Wirtz has now made a clear statement.
In an interview with SPIEGEL, Wirtz explained his relationship with his coach and how he sees his future: „It’s extremely important for me that I have such a good relationship with him. But of course we decide on our future independently of each other. I’m not tying my path to his,“ said Wirtz.
Reports recently made the rounds that Alonso would like to take his protégé with him to his new club in the event of a possible transfer.
On the question of whether he will remain at Leverkusen next season, regardless of whether Alonso stays or not, Wirtz said: „I really don’t know what the coach will do. And as far as my future is concerned, my focus these days is on the national team. And after that, I still have a lot of plans with Bayer Leverkusen.“
Wirtz is in a promising position with Leverkusen in three competitions, including leading the Bundesliga with a 10-point lead over FC Bayern. The midfielder is also considered a hopeful for the national team for the upcoming home European Championships in the summer.
Wirtz departure unlikely in the summer
Hans-Joachim Wirtz, Florian’s father and advisor, recently indicated that his son would continue his development at Leverkusen, where his contract runs until 2027, for the time being. Bayer Leverkusen themselves are also keen to keep the 20-year-old.
Wirtz has made significant contributions to Leverkusen’s strong season this season. He has scored 7 goals and provided 10 assists in 26 games. Under coach Xabi Alonso, he has taken another big step forward in his development. FC Bayern are said to be very interested in the midfielder. However, Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid are also mentioned as possible next stops for Wirtz.
