Leverkusen CEO Carro stresses Wirtz won't leave in summer

Germany international Florian Wirtz will remain at Bayer Leverkusen next season "with 100% certainty," according to CEO Fernando Carro.

"The fact that (coach) Xabi Alonso is staying is an additional incentive," Carro told Spanish radio station Onda Cero in an interview published on Sunday.

Wirtz has a contract with Leverkusen until June 2027, but several top clubs are interested in signing him.

The club management wants to keep a large part of the squad and avoid having to compensate for many departures as in 2001 and 2002, said Carro, who, however, expects lucrative offers.

His goal is for the team to establish itself among the 16 best clubs in Europe and play in the Champions League.

Leverkusen top the Bundesliga standings with a 13-point advantage over second-placed Bayern Munich and, with seven games left in the season, are on the verge of claiming first-ever league title.

The team has been playing "a very good season," thanks in part to coach Alonso. "It couldn't have gone better," Carro said.

Alonso said on Friday he will stay in Leverkusen next season, despite interest from his former clubs Bayern, Liverpool and Real Madrid.