Volker Struth admits he spoke with Wirtz's former Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso about them joining Real Madrid together before the winger's move to Liverpool.
He recalled: "During the time when there was talk of him signing for Liverpool or Bayern Munich, I called Xabi Alonso and told him: 'You have to take the Leverkusen lad to Real Madrid.'
"Xabi replied: 'You don't have to tell me, you have to tell Florentino Pérez.' So I sent him a message: 'Dear Florentino, I've told you this many times: I have a player here that I highly recommend.'
"Real Madrid was better in the past than it is now. And it's clear: Florian Wirtz makes every team in the world better. In the end, the offer didn't materialiae, as Liverpool, City, and Bayern were the only clubs that made a formal approach to Wirtz.
"That year, it simply wasn't the right time due to the squad and the budget. Even Real Madrid's coffers aren't always overflowing."