Real Madrid News
Real Madrid were close to sign Liverpool new arrival in 2020 – Here’s why the move collapsed
Florian Wirtz is one of the players in focus as Liverpool take on Real Madrid at Anfield tonight.
The German international will be keen on proving himself in front of his former head coach Xabi Alonso, having endured a difficult start to life at Liverpool.
However, had things gone differently, Wirtz would have been representing Real Madrid tonight, as he was apparently close to joining the club five years ago.
Real Madrid were close to signing Wirtz
According to AS, Real Madrid were close to signing Florian Wirtz in 2020, as they wanted to shore up their ranks in the creative department.
Wirtz was still a teenager at the time and was coming on the back of his rookie season in the Bundesliga that saw him make seven appearances for Leverkusen.
Having identified the talent early, Real Madrid were close to making a move for the German, especially after Eden Hazard’s poor maiden campaign at the Bernabeu.
However, the report adds that the move fell through due to the pandemic.
The report details just how advanced the operation was. Juni Calafat’s scouting department had identified Wirtz as “pure talent” and, after contacting his entourage in the winter of 2020, found the player was delighted by the thought of wearing white.
This was something that has been revealed by Bayer Leverkusen chief Fernando Carro as well recently, stating that Wirtz was only one call away.
Everything was in motion for Real Madrid. A meeting was set to take place between Real Madrid and Leverkusen to finalise the transfer of the then 18-year-old prodigy.
But due to the pandemic, the crucial meeting was postponed, and the period of financial restraint that followed effectively closed the door on new signings at the Bernabeu, thereby halting Wirtz’s path to Madrid.
Real Madrid opted to renew Antonio Rudiger’s contract this past summer to keep him at the club for one more season.
The 33-year-old veteran defender, though, has not been performing at his best, with physical problems taking their toll and age starting to catch up with him.
As such, the expectation is that Los Blancos will not extend his contract again when his current one expires on 30 June 2027.
Tottenham eye Antonio Rudiger
And, according to reports relayed by AS, Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a free-transfer swoop to sign Rudiger in the summer of next year.
The north London club are understood to be keen on reinforcing their backline next year and see the German defender as an option, given his experience in the Premier League and the fact that he would be available for free in the summer.
So far this season, Rudiger has played only five games for Real Madrid, amounting to a total of 396 minutes.
The 33-year-old has even chipped in with two goals, including the all-important winner in the 4-3 comeback victory over AS Roma on Wednesday night.
Time to move on?
Despite Rudiger being a hugely respected figure in the Real Madrid locker room, he is currently the third-choice centre-back for Jose Mourinho.
After all, summer signing Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen have been preferred by the manager so far in the new season.
Moreover, with Eder Militao set to return imminently after a lengthy injury layoff, Rudiger’s game-time could be impacted further.
Given the situation and factoring in Real Madrid’s plans to sign another centre-back next summer, it is pretty much evident that Rudiger does not feature in the club’s plans for beyond this season.
As such, a separation of ways seems pretty likely when his contract expires, and Tottenham are now positioning themselves as early suitors to sign Rudiger as a free agent in 2027.
