Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has made a startling claim regarding Florian Wirtz’s future, suggesting the club’s record signing could be loaned to Real Madrid as soon as January. Wirtz joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in a high-profile summer transfer but has struggled to settle under new manager Arne Slot. Despite his slow start at Anfield, Real Madrid continue to be linked with the German international, and Hamann hasn’t dismissed the possibility of a loan move.
In an interview with ESportsBets (via GOAL), Hamann highlighted how loaning out top players—once considered unthinkable—has become a reality in modern football, citing Philippe Coutinho’s temporary switch to Bayern Munich after his record move to Barcelona as an example.
Hamann explained:
“In the past, top players weren’t loaned. Loans were for those who weren’t getting game time. It probably started with Coutinho when he went to Barcelona for around 140 million, and a year later he was loaned to Bayern Munich. Today, you can’t rule anything out in football.”
“It’s been reported that Xabi Alonso has asked Real Madrid to monitor Wirtz at Liverpool, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s true. Wirtz was the heartbeat of Bayer Leverkusen alongside Granit Xhaka—they won the league, they won the cup. He’s too talented to fail at Liverpool, but after about ten games, you can never rule anything out.”
“In my era, Juan Sebastian Veron came to Manchester United as potentially the best midfielder in the world but lasted just one season. Anything can happen. The coming weeks will be telling. If Real Madrid are keeping tabs on him, a move could occur.”
Wirtz’s early struggles at Liverpool can largely be linked to the stark tactical shift from his role at Leverkusen under Xabi Alonso. At Leverkusen, he was the team’s creative core, operating as a left-sided No.10 in a 3-4-2-1 system, with teammates like Xhaka instructed to find him between the lines. This setup allowed him high possession, the freedom to dribble, and space to deliver his trademark incisive passes.
At Liverpool, however, Wirtz isn’t the focal point. His touches per 90 minutes have dropped, and his new role demands more off-the-ball work and defensive pressing. The physicality of the Premier League has also posed a challenge, with Wirtz often outmuscled in early matches—a common adjustment for technically gifted players moving from the Bundesliga.
Despite these challenges, Wirtz’s quality is unquestioned. Considered one of the world’s best in his position, it’s no surprise that top clubs like Real Madrid continue to monitor him closely.
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