Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso backs his former Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz to be a success at Liverpool
19:28, 03 Nov 2025
Xabi Alonso, Head Coach of Real Madrid, looks on during a press conference at Anfield on November 03, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
Xabi Alonso says he has no doubts that Florian Wirtz will succeed at Liverpool, saying he wouldn’t be the Real Madrid boss without the contributions of the Germany international at Bayer Leverkusen. Alonso and Wirtz were the two most high-profile departures from Leverkusen in the summer.
The head coach replaced Carlo Ancelotti in Madrid around the same time the Premier League champions completed a £116m deal for the attacking midfielder.
Wirtz has yet to set English football alight, however, and is without a goal or an assist in the league. Alonso, though, says the 22-year-old is a “special player” who will eventually showcase his quality at Anfield.
READ MORE: Dean Huijsen rejects Anfield factor and responds to Liverpool transfer claim – ‘Just a pitch’READ MORE: Arne Slot admits Trent Alexander-Arnold doubt as Liverpool challenge put forward
“Yes, for sure,” Alonso said. “I have no doubts. It is just a matter of time. For sure it is a big change for him to come to Liverpool after so many years in Germany, he’s been there all his life. And a few years in Leverkusen.
“He needs to adapt but he is a really special player. He has quality and personality and he’s competitive, so when he makes that trick, it has happened with great players in the Premier League before and I’ve no doubts with Flo.
“He is very special and probably one of the reasons I’m here now, is because of Flo, so I’m very grateful to Flo.
“Hopefully not tomorrow but I’ve no doubt he will show his quality and class.”
Alonso returns to Merseyside with Trent Alexander-Arnold as part of his los Blancos squad and a hostile atmosphere is expected for the former Liverpool defender following the acrimonious nature of his June move to the Spanish capital.
Alonso, who won the 2005 Champions League at Anfield, says he has not spoken with Alexander-Arnold about the type of reception that is likely awaiting him on his first game at his former club since the summer switch.
Alonso added: “We haven’t spoken about [the emotion of the return], but we have spoken about the team, the club.
“He has to have his own feelings and enjoy it his own way. So I am not going to say how he needs to feel it.
“For sure his history is different from mine, he was born and bred in Liverpool, I remember him from a young age in the academy and then coming to the first team and winning the Champions League.
“So he needs to enjoy that moment because it is nice to be back and for him it is nice.
“He is good. He didn’t play (at the weekend) because of the context of the game but he is available for any number of minutes. Tomorrow he may play and after the injury he had we need his qualities; he has great qualities.
“He is in a new stage for him both sporting, physically and mentally. We need to give him what he needs because he is an exceptional player that we have in our squad.”
