2 days Ago
EXCLUSIVE REVEALED: How Xabi Alonso moulded Florian Wirtz into the perfect Pep Guardiola player...
and why it could actually cost £125MILLION to land Kevin De Bruyne's successor this summer PLUS: Why Bayer Leverkusen chiefs won't settle for a cut-price fee for the German Join Mail+ for more exclusive scoops, in-depth reporting and analysis from inside the Manchester City camp By DOMINIC KING Published: 12:00 GMT, 18 February 2025 | Updated: 12:02 GMT, 18 February 2025 e-mail View comments Take the ball, pass the ball. It’s not just a philosophy for Pep Guardiola but a mantra and an obsession. Those words spawned a film about his years making Barcelona the greatest team of the modern era and formed the basis of the three teams he’s managed to win a raft of trophies with.
When Guardiola looks for a player, it is essential they can take the ball and pass it. The importance of doing so was drilled into him by Johan Cruyff and while it took time to understand the methodology – Michael Laudrup impishly used to call him 'Pep Two Feet' as he would often take too many touches in training – he’s now the ultimate tutor, taking those who want to learn to new levels. It’s easy to see why, then, he wants Florian Wirtz.
The dramatic and swift renovation of Manchester City , which started with an eyebrow raising £185million splurge in January, will continue at pace this summer and what an addition the young Germany international would be. He’s got the gift of playing football at his own pace, the kind of midfielder who catches your eye with the way his socks nestle halfway up his calves like Jack Grealish and the languid manner he can roll possession into speedy forwards like a crown green bowler trying to gently displace a jack. Little wonder he has become one of Europe’s most in-demand midfielders.
He has flourished under Xabi Alonso , becoming a kingpin in the side that made history last season with the first invincible domestic campaign in the Bundesliga . Florian Wirtz has established himself as one of the best attacking midfielders in the world at Bayer Leverkusen Pep Guardiola's side splurged £185million in January on new additions and they are expected to continue spending big in the summer Wirtz has flourished under Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, who also had a stint playing under Guardiola at Bayern Munich On the night they shook the foundations of the established order last February, routing Bayern Munich 3-0 at the BayArena, Wirtz was gloriously to the fore, moving into those little pockets and creating mayhem – right foot, left foot, a simple pass or deft flick. Bayern couldn’t lay a glove on him.
Mail Sport once watched a training session at Leverkusen, before a Europa League group game against Molde in December 2023, and Alonso has the same grip over his squad as Guardiola, preaching to his players, standing in a semi-circle, about how retaining possession is the law. Alonso had a stint playing under Guardiola and was fascinated by how he would map out his ideas. ‘To go on this path, we need to do this and this and this to get here,’ Alonso explained.
‘Pep thinks about all those steps. But he doesn’t just think. He shows us, to convince us that is going to be the best way, from the tactical point of view, the motivational point of view.
He thinks on every side.’ Alonso's determination to drive Leverkusen forward has captivated the players with whom he is working, not least Wirtz. For his part, the 43-year-old is on a mission to take his young protege to the highest possible level.
‘We want to help Florian Wirtz,’ said Alonso, after he had sparkled in a 5-0 skewering of Red Bull Salzburg last November. ‘We know how different he is; We have to find him at the right moments. This competition is for him.
He is a Champions League player.’ Not just that, he is a player for the biggest moments, which is why it came as a huge surprise on Saturday evening when, in the final seconds of their latest clash with Bayern, Wirtz missed a glorious chance to blow the title race wide open, putting a shot wide with the goal at his mercy in injury time. Wirtz, another one of those jewels to develop at Leverkusen’s excellent academy, is going to be a Champions League player for a long time but how long will he stay at his hometown club? If Guardiola has his wish, it won’t be beyond the end of the current campaign.
The 21-year-old has a €125million release clause, coming into play in 2026, meaning any deal to sign him this summer would come at an even heftier price But a note of caution in this tale: a price of £85million (€100million) has been mooted but privately in Leverkusen they are incredulous that it is being assumed they will do business at that figure. If City want Wirtz, the bank is going to have to be broken. Leverkusen have been in negotiations with Wirtz about getting him to sign an extension to his contract; his current terms run until 2027 but the reigning champions believe that he will commit to a further 12 months.
A buyout clause of £104million (€125million), coming into play in 2026, has been mooted. If he doesn’t want to sign, Leverkusen would be reluctant sellers this summer but only on their terms – and that would be for £125million (€150million). Guardiola, deep down, would recognise why they place such a value on one so special, the young man who makes taking the ball and passing the ball look so easy.
Manchester City Pep Guardiola Transfers Share or comment on this article: REVEALED: How Xabi Alonso moulded Florian Wirtz into the perfect Pep Guardiola player...
and why it could actually cost £125MILLION to land Kevin De Bruyne's successor this summer e-mail Add comment.
