Florian Wirtz has revealed how Xabi Alonso reacted to his club-record move to Liverpool
Florian Wirtz undergoes his Liverpool medical
Florian Wirtz undergoes his Liverpool medical(Image: LFC TV)
Florian Wirtz has revealed how Xabi Alonso reacted to his move to Liverpool. The Reds signed the German from Bayer Leverkusen in a club-record deal worth up to £116m.
Bayern Munich had previously been favourites to sign the 22-year-old, while Man City were also long-term suitors after earmarking the Belgian as a long-term replacement for Kevin De Bruyne. Real Madrid has also been frequently linked with a move for Wirtz, with such speculation only heightening after Alonso left Leverkusen to take over as manager of the La Liga giants.
However, Liverpool stole a march on the competition to secure Wirtz’s signature, as the 22-year-old joined Jeremie Frimpong in making the move from Leverkusen to Anfield.
And while a reunion with Alonso with Madrid was seemingly never on the cards, Wirtz has revealed the former Reds midfielder was delighted to see the playmaker join his old club.
“It was Jeremie (Frimpong) who trained a bit my English skills because he was sitting next to me in the changing room,” he explained during his medical. “When I came from school, I couldn’t speak English.
“(My English comes) from the changing room because even Xabi (Alonso), Xabi was speaking English.
“He was really happy that I am coming here. Because he was telling me he came also at 22 to Liverpool.”
Frimpong was mentioned more than once during Wirtz’s medical, after the German had been pictured with the Netherlands international on holiday prior to arriving on Merseyside.
And the playmaker shared his delight to be linking up with his former Leverkusen team-mate again as he admitted that Frimpong had been in his ear about joining the Reds.
“(I’m) just a bit sunburnt from yesterday," he said in the club’s behind the scenes signing day video, before laughing about being spotted with Frimpong. "(I was) in Greece, in Kos. Yes, also on a boat with Jeremie, yes.
"He’s a really funny guy. (He could be a comedian) for sure. It’s really nice (to be back with him).
“I met him on the holiday and we spoke a lot. Also at the end of the season.
“He’s a good friend and he was telling me to come, to join Liverpool, and I’m really happy that we are coming together from Leverkusen.
“I think the people can be really excited about him and also with me.”