Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro has delivered a firm response to rumours linking manager Xabi Alonso and star player Florian Wirtz with imminent moves to Real Madrid.
The sought-after duo were at the epicentre of Leverkusen's stunning, title-winning campaign in 2023/24. Wirtz was crowned Bundesliga Player of the Season after spearheading Alonso's team which didn't lose a single domestic match and was a European final away from a treble.
Leverkusen have only lost one league game this season, but have already slipped nine points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. The defending champions have shipped 18 goals in 11 top-flight matches - six more than relegation-threatened St Pauli.
Despite this slow start to the campaign, Leverkusen's hierarchy are eager to keep Alonso and Wirtz at the club amid strong links of Real Madrid interest.
When asked about the chances of Wirtz remaining at Bayer beyond the summer, Carro claimed they were "very high".
"And why shouldn't they be high?" he huffed, as quoted by The Athletic. "As long as he has a contract here, as long as he feels comfortable here, as long as he knows that he can play top football here and has a top team and can celebrate successes, then he is happy."
Wirtz has a contract at Leverkusen until the summer of 2027. His manager has a deal extending to 2026, but there are suggestions that Alonso has some sort of unwritten settlement with the club allowing him to leave at the end of this season. Carro quickly set the record straight on that point.
"What I can definitely deny - 100% - is that there are any guarantees or agreements that I have heard in the media," the executive declared.
"The thoughts of all the players, coaches, coaching staff, and management of the club are in the here and now. We have enough to do on the pitch until the end of the year. It often annoys me that there is such speculation. I can admit that.
"But the here and now is important, nobody is interested in next season at the moment and nothing has been finalised. He has a contract for now."
Alonso's agent has also claimed that his client has never had any direct contact with Real Madrid regarding the possibility of succeeding Carlo Ancelotti. The veteran Italian - who coached Alonso in the Spanish capital a decade ago - signed a new deal last year extending to June 2026, but has not ruled out the possibility of coaching the club beyond that date.
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