Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid? Leverkusen manager addresses future as rumours of Ancelotti’s move to Brazil rise
Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso insists he hasn’t spoken to anyone from Real Madrid, despite recently spending time in Spain.
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Leverkusen are six points behind Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga with only six league rounds left, but Alonso can still end the season with a trophy this year as well even if they can’t make up for lost time – his team is in the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal.
For the Spaniard, however, the cup could be the last opportunity to add more trophies to Leverkusen’s collection, as he has been constantly linked with a move to Real Madrid.
“No conversations with Real Madrid”
Speaking to Football Espana, Alonso claimed that he has not had contact with any club, but would not speculate on the future:
– “I haven’t made any decisions. It was a good break, we needed it. It was a different situation compared to last year. Then there was something to decide, now it’s not. That’s the difference. I was in Spain last week, yes, but I haven’t spoken to anyone.”
– “There is no deadline. My thoughts are the same. I keep my focus on this season, I have already said that both the players and my focus is on what we have now. We are in a crucial phase. We don’t want to speculate on anything beyond football.”
Current Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has often been linked with a move to the Brazilian national team. After Dorival Junior lost his job this week, speculation that Ancelotti could leave Spain in the summer has increased. – There are rumours of an exit call for the Italian manager right now.
Alonso managed to break Bayern Munich’s dominance in the Bundesliga last year, preventing Bayern from winning the league for the first time since 2011-12.
Although Leverkusen is his only job as manager so far, his impressive performances have led to him being linked with the head coaching role at his former clubs Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
With Arne Slot and Vincent Kompany being hired by Liverpool and Bayern respectively in 2024 and each leading their respective leagues, Real Madrid seems like the most likely next step for Alonso.
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If Alonso takes over Real Madrid, he will arrive in an important transition phase for the club.
- Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to be brought in in the summer.
- Kylian Mbappé will then be more adapted to life in Madrid.
- Young stars like Eduardo Camavinga are likely to be ready to play a bigger role.
Real have won two of the last three Champions League titles and three of the last five La Liga titles, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they add more trophies this season.
By bringing in Alonso as Ancelotti’s successor, Real can ensure long-term stability at the Bernabéu by hiring one of the world’s best young managers to lead the club’s next generation of stars.
