Key Bayer Leverkusen figure talks about €130m star’s future amidst Barcelona interest | OneFootball

In recent years, FC Barcelona have been linked to some of the world’s biggest talents. Despite their financial concerns and limitations, the pedigree of La Blaugrana remains untouched and unchanged. For that reason, regardless of FFP restrictions, Barcelona remain a big player in the market.

After signing Dani Olmo in the summer transfer window, the Catalan club even proved that they have their ways of getting the players that they want. Unfortunately, that will not always play out in their favor and some players are simply not for sale irrespective of wealth or influence.

Florian Wirtz, for instance, could be a player who can be put in this particular category. Currently a key player for Bayer Leverkusen and also having an important role with the German National team, the €130 million-rated Bundesliga star is a name that Barça has been connected to since quite some time.

However, as highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, the chances of him joining the Catalan club in 2025 could be reduced by Bayer Leverkusen’s own objectives according to Rudi Voller. A legend of German football himself and also a member of the Bundesliga club’s shareholders’ committee, Voller is an influential individual for Leverkusen and his opinion automatically holds a certain weight to it.

In regards to Wirtz, the former Bayer Leverkusen manager suggested that the club would prefer to keep the 21-year-old attacking midfielder until at least the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

“My intuition tells me that Bayer Leverkusen will try to convince him to stay one more year, until after the 2026 World Cup.”

As per previous reports, Barcelona and other big clubs are hoping to advance negotiations for the player in 2025, and Voller seems to believe that as well:

“Many clubs will try to sign him in 2025, which, of course, will be expensive.”

However, Voller also did state that he does believe that Wirtz will eventually end up moving to another club, but given how expensive his signing would be, there are only a limited number of clubs that could afford him:

“At some point, he will make the leap and go elsewhere… It’s no secret that Bayern wants him, though there are two or three other clubs that could afford him. We’re talking about sums that not everyone can pay.”

Yet, the longer the saga concerning Wirtz drags on, the better it is for Barcelona. While the Catalan club does not necessarily possess the best financial ability in terms of making the perfect offer to either the player or the club, they are at least aware of the youngster’s inclination towards the club from Spain.