Florentino Perez is gearing up to aggressively pursue top-tier talent for Real Madrid in the coming years. Central to this “Galactico project” are young, yet established European football stars, with Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe as prime targets.
The focus of this initiative is on acquiring younger players who have already made a name for themselves in European football. Jude Bellingham is anticipated to be the first major acquisition this summer, assuming Real Madrid can fend off competition from Manchester City and Liverpool for his signature.
Florian Wirtz, a 19-year-old regarded as one of the most promising young talents in European football, is another potential target for Real Madrid. Despite having only four appearances for Germany due to a long-term injury, Wirtz’s potential is undeniable. Although he has indicated that a transfer might not happen this summer, there are reports suggesting that Bayer Leverkusen could be willing to sell him through a bidding war, seeking a fee in the range of €90-100 million.
Real Madrid could accommodate a player like Wirtz even though they typically do not use an attacking midfielder, his natural position. Wirtz is versatile enough to play deeper, possibly as an offensively oriented midfielder in Real Madrid’s standard three-man midfield. His exceptional ball-carrying abilities and dribbling skills make him a valuable asset.
Perez envisions a lineup featuring Wirtz supporting a forward like Erling Haaland, flanked by talents such as Vinicius Jr, Endrick, or Kylian Mbappe. With midfielders like Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, or Federico Valverde, Real Madrid could dominate European football for years to come
Despite being only 19, Wirtz already performs at a high level and is expected to continue improving, potentially becoming one of the top players in world football.
If Real Madrid maintains their 4-3-3 formation, Wirtz could also be deployed in the forward line, having previously played as a right winger—a position that might need strengthening, given uncertainties about Rodrygo’s effectiveness there.
While Wirtz would significantly enhance the Real Madrid squad, his signing is not critical, especially if the club continues with the successful 4-3-3 formation.