Bayer Leverkusen: the general director’s frank confidences on Florian Wirtz and Xabi Alonso

For more than a year, this has surely been the most coveted coach-player tandem in Europe. Authors of a memorable vintage last season with Bayer Leverkusen, Florian Wirtz and Xabi Alonso have moved into another category. While the playmaker has become one of the most popular players in Europe and is now a fixture with the Mannschaft, the Spanish coach has also become one of the most popular tacticians on the market. And while a departure was very clearly envisaged for the two men, they decided to agree to one last year with the residents of the BayArena. A daring choice, but one that ultimately paid off.

Even if it is necessarily less brilliant than last year when the Werkself finished the season undefeated in the league, the latter is still in the game in the league and is making a nice comeback in the Champions League, where a direct qualification for the 8th final is clearly possible. A controlled first part of the season which strengthened the rating of both men. While the 21-year-old attacking midfielder continues to pile up the statistics with 12 goals and 8 assists in 25 matches, the Iberian coach continues to impress and silences his detractors on his ability to hold his group over the long term. From then on, the future of the two men is still uncertain and vacillates with the almost daily rumors about them.

Nothing has been signed yet for Florian Wirtz, the door is open for Xabi Alonso

Lately, the German press, and more particularly Kickerannounced a bomb: Florian Wirtz is close to signing a new contract with his training club. Under contract until 2027, the native of Pulheim has, according to newspapers across the Rhine, extended his contract by one year with Bayer Leverkusen. Incredible information that Fernando Carro completely denied this Sunday. Asked by Sky Germanythe Bayer general manager said that nothing had yet been signed regarding a lease extension for the 21-year-old player: “our wish is that Florian plays for us as long as possible. Even until the 2026 World Cup, i.e. next season, it would be very good. The likelihood of this happening is of course greater with a contract extension. This is why we would like to extend it.»

You will have understood, the desire to extend Florian Wirtz has not yet come to life and the future of the German international (29 caps, 6 goals) is still up in the air. What about Xabi Alonso? Sent to the benches of the biggest clubs in Europe this summer, the elegant former midfielder is still coveted. However, optimism reigns regarding a contract extension as stated by our German colleagues. Fernando Carro expects the worst. Obviously having a privileged relationship with his compatriot, the person concerned assured that the departure of the Iberian coach would take place under good conditions: “we have such a good relationship that if he came to us and said he wanted to go somewhere else, we would negotiate with him.» Nothing is yet decided for Florian Wirtz and Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen.